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Harper's  Stereotype  Edition. 

ANASTASIUS; 

OR, 

MEMOIRS    OF    A    GREEK. 

WRITTEN    AT    THE 

CLOSE  OF  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 

IN   TWO   VOLUMES. 
VOL.  I. 


NEW-YORK ; 

PUBLISHED  BY  J.  i-  J.  HARPER,  82  CL1FF-S7. 

Sold  by  Collins  &  Ilannay,  Collins  <fe  Co.,  Q.  &  C.  &  H.  Carvi'.l,  White,  Gal- 
laher,  &  White,  O  A.  Roorbach,  Pendleton  &  Hill,  E.  Bliss,  and  C.  S. 
Francis;— Alhany,  O.  Steele,  and  Little  &  Cummings;— Philadelphia, 
John  Grigg,  Towur  &  Ho^an,  E.  L.  Carey  &  A  Ilart,  and  T.  Desilver,  jr.; 

Boston,  Riohavdson,  Lord,  &  Holbrook.  and  Carter,  Hendee,  &  Babcock; 

Baltimore,  W.  tSe  J.  Neal,  .1.  Jewett,  (.'usliing  &  Sons,  M'Dovvell  <fe  Son, 

E.  J.  Coale.  J.  Robinson,  and  P.  N.  Wood. 

1831. 


vn 

^-  v.  / 

^^  PREFACE  OF  THE  EDITOR. 


> 


Some  apology  may  seem  required  for  the  publication 

of  these  Memoirs.     The  editor  indeed  trusts  that  no  one 

will  suspect  him  of  proposing  their  hero  as  a  model,  his 

actions  I's  examples,  or  his  principles  as  praiseworthy: 

but  he  would  not  even  willingly  be  supposed  to  present 

scenes — loo  frequently  of  vice — merely  for  the  sake  of 

affording  an  idle  and  unprofitable  pastime.     His  aim  is 

not  wholly  frivolous.     In  an  age  in  wnich  whatever  re- 

•J      lates  to  the  regions  once  adorned  by  the  Greeks,  and 

»       since  defaced  by  the  Turks,  excites  peculiar  attention, 

he  thought  that  this  narrative  might  add  to  our  informa- 

c£     tion  on  so  interesting  a  subject,  not  only  by  present- 

2     ing  a  picture  of  national  customs  and  manners,  but  by 

M     offering  many  historical  and  biographical  notices  not  to 

J     be  met  with  elsewhere,  and  yet,  as  far  as  their  accuracy 

has  been  investigated,  narrated  with  scrupulous  regard  to 

?•      truth: — for  though  the  author  has  probably  brought  for- 

?^      ward  under  the  mask  of  fictitious  names,  the  persons  and 

^      adventures  of  some  private  individuals,  whom  he  might 

*       not  have  deemed  himself  warranted  to  drag  before  the 

public  undisguised,  he  seems  to  have  described  public 

..1      events  and  personages  with  all  the  fidelity  of  an  his- 

ji      torian.     Unfortunately,  the  weeds  in   his  work  are  so 

g     closely  interwoven  with  its  flowers,  that  only  some  of 

JQ     the  rankest  among  the  former  could  be  plucked  out 

y     without  detriment  to  the  latter. 

z:  The  MS.  being  ill  wrhten  and  full  of  erasures,  some 

J     names  of  persons  and  places  may  have  been  mistaken; 

*»      and  in  all  of  them  it  was   extremely  difficult  to  alter 

the  original  orthography  to  that  whicli  in  English  would 

produce  the  same  sounds.     As  a  great  part  of  the  Ian- 

A-3 

408055 


4  editor's  preface. 

guage  was  moreover  in  a  familiar  tone,  and  full  of  idio- 
matic and  proverbial  expressions,  a  still  greater  diffi- 
culty occurred  in  the  necessity  of  rendering  these  by 
such  English  equivalents  as  might  convey  the  sense, 
and  render  it  intelligible  to  the  English  reader,  without 
wholly  destroying  the  Eastern  turn  of  t'le  style,  and 
tlie  French,  and  Greek,  and  Turkish  peculiarities  of 
phrase,  in  which  the  narrative  aboimds. 

For  the  explanation  of  such  Turkish  words  or  allu- 
sions to  Eastern  customs  as  might  be  least  generally 
miderstood,  the  editor  has  added  a  few  notes,  conveying 
what  little  information  he  has  been  able  to  collect, 
respecting  the  constantly  shifting  scene  of  action  to 
which  we  are  conveyed  by  the  restless  writer  of  these 
luivarnished  confessions. 


«, 


ANASTASIUS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


My  family  came  originally  from  Epirus:  my  father 
settled  at  Chio.  His  parentage  was  neither  exalted  nor 
yet  low.  In  his  own  opinion,  he  could  boast  of  purer 
blood  than  any  of  the  Pateologi,  the  Cantacusenes,  and 
the  Comneni  of  the  present  day.  "  These  mongrel  de- 
scendants," he  used  to  obsei-ve,  "  of  Greeks,  Venetians, 
and  Genoese  had  only  picked  up  the  fine  names  they' 
flourished  about  in,  when  the  real  owners  dropped  off:  he 
wore  his  own ;"  and  Signor  Sotiri  saw  no  reason  why  he 
should  not,  when  ho  went  forth  into  public,  toss  his  head, 
swing  his  jubbee*  like  a  pendulum  from  side  to  side,  and 
shuffle  along  in  his  papooshes,  with  all  the  airs  of 
quality. 

This  worthy  man  combined  in  his  single  person  the 
various  characters  of  diplomatist,  husbandman,  merchant, 
manufacturer,  and  master  of  a  privateer.  To  be  more 
explicit,  he  was  dro^uemanf  to  the  French  consul  at 
Chio;  in  town  he  kept  a  silk-loom  at  work;  in  the 
country  he  had  a  plantation  o(  agrumi  ;X  he  exported  his 
stuffs  and  fruits  to  the  principal  seaports  in  the  Archi- 
pelago; and  in  the  first  Russian  war,  he  employed  all  his 
spare  money  in  fitting  out  a  small  vessel  to  cruise  against 
the  enemy— for  so  he  chose  to  consider  the  Russians,  in 
spite  of  all  their  amicable  professions  toward.^  tlie  Greeks. 
As  a  loyal  subject  of  the  Porte,  and  an  old  servant  of  the 
French  government,  he  felt  no  sort  of  wish  to  be  deliv- 
ered from  the  yoke  of  the  Turks ,  and  he  looked  upon 
those  barbarians  of  the  North,  who  cared  no  more  for  the 
patriarch  of  Constantinople  than  for  the  pope  of  Rome, 
as  little  better  than  rank  heretics,  not  worthy  of  being 
treated  even  like  his  silkworms,  which  every  year  he  got 

*  Jubbee — flowing  gown,  generally  worn  in  the  Levant  by  men  of  seden- 
tary habits  and  professions. 

t  Drogueman— official  interpreter  employed  by  Franks  in  their  conferences 
with  the  Mohammedans. 

t  Agrunij— Italian  denomination  used  in  the  Levant  for  every  species  of 
fi-uit  of  the  orange  and  lemon  kind. 


6  ANASTASIUS. 

carefully  exorcised  before  their  spinning  time.  I  how- 
ever remember,  when  a  child,  some  buzz  in  the  family, 
about  my  father's  partner  in  the  privateer — an  Ipsariote 
reis* — liaving  one  day  made  a  mistake  in  capturmg  undei 
the  rocks  of  Jura  a  rich  Turkish  vessel,  which  he  went 
and  sold  to  the  Russians  themselves,  then  stationed  at 
Paros.  Signer  Sotiri  shook  ])is  head  at  tliis  intelligence, 
as  if  he  did  not  approve  of  the  transaction,  and  observed, 
"  the  less  that  was  said  about  it,  the  better."  I  suppose, 
therefore,  it  was  out  of  sheer  humanity,  that  he  preferred 
receiving  his  share  of  the  prize  money,  to  the  sterile  and 
barbarous  satisfaction  of  hanging  his  associate. 

Much  improved  in  his  circumstances  by  this  untoward 
accident,  my  father  would  have  given  up  his  inleipreter- 
sliip.  Besides  rendering  him  more  or  less  dependent,  it 
was  uncomfortable,  in  so  far  as,  being  veiy  deaf,  he  never 
lieard  what  it  was  his  business  to  translate.  But  my 
mother  liked  the  title  of  droguemaness.  She  had  never 
heard  of  the  necessity  of  a  droguenian  reporting  speeches 
as  he  received  them  ;  and  she  reminded  her  husband  how 
essential  the  protection  of  the  French  mission  might  be 
to  some  of  his  Greek  speculations. 

My  mother  was  a  native  of  Naxos,  and  esteemed  a 
great  heiress  in  her  country.  She  possessed  an  estate  of 
three  hundred  piastres  a-yciir,  clear,  managed  by  a  rela- 
tion of  her  own,  Marco  Politi ;  very  wealthy  himself,  pri- 
mate of  all  the  Greek  villages  of  the  island,  and  a  very 
great  rogue. 

My  brothers  and  sisters — and  there  came,  one  by  one, 
just  three  of  each — all  contrived  to  take  precedence  of  me 
at  their  birth,  and  consequently  throughout  the  whole  of 
their  subsequent  lives.  The  punctilio  of  the  thing  I 
.should  not  liave  minded ;  but,  among  my  countrymen,  a 
foolisli  family  pride  exhausts  people's  fortunes  during 
their  lifetime  in  portioning  thc^ir  daughters:  the  elder  sons 
ran  away  witli  what  remained,  and  poor  Anastasius 
brought  up  the  rear  witli  but  an  indifferent  prospect.  My 
kind  parents,  however,  determined  to  make  up  for  leaving 
me  destitute  at  their  death,  by  spoiling  me  as  much  as 
possible  during  their  lives. 

My  eldest  sister  (I  be^rin,  as  is  proper,  with  tlie  ladies) 
married  a  physician  of  tlie  country  graduated  at  Padua, 
liobust  as  a  hamahfand  never  until  her  marriage  having 

*  An  IpHsrioto  rein— or  master  of  a  merchant  vessel  from  the  island  oflpsara, 
t  Hamal— the  Tuikish  for  a  porter. 


,  ANA3TAS1US.  7 

known  a  moment's  illness,  Epiphania  seemed  to  bid  de- 
fiance to  her  husband's  utmost  skill  in  medicine.  But  she 
was  not  proof  against  her  own  imaginations.  Signor 
Sozimo  expressed  such  constant  anxiety  about  his  "  dear 
wife's"  precious  health,  and  gave  her  so  much  viper  broth 
to  keep  up  her  strength,  that  she  soon  began  to  fancy  her- 
self in  a  bad  way ;  and  died  at  last  of  the  mere  apprehen- 
sion of  not  living. 

My  sister  Roxana,  who  would  have  been  a  beauty  but 
for  a  scar,  which  she  chose  to  call  a  dimple,  at  an  early 
age  fell  desperately  in  love  with  a  Turk ;  and,  spite  of  all 
the  remonstrances  of  her  friends,  bestowed  her  hand  upon 
this  unbeliever.  Nor  was  it  until  the  very  last  of  her 
offended  relations  had  been  prevailed  upon  to  grant  her 
an  unlimited  pardon,  that  she  became  conscious  of  the 
heinousness  of  her  crime,  and  began  to  feel  an  uncon- 
querable desire  to  re-enter  the  pale  of  our  holy  com- 
munion. This  she  at  length  effected,  by  never  ceasing 
to  bewail  her  apostacy,  until  her  husband,  in  disgust, 
allowed  her  a  divorce.  Immediately  she  flew  back  at  once 
into  the  arms  of  the  church,  and  into  those  of  a  young 
Greek,  who,  an  effective  instrument  in  her  reformation, 
obliterated  every  trace  of  her  first  unhallowed  wedlock, 
by  a  more  canonical  union.  He  truly  laboured  for  the 
church;  for  he  was  by  trade  an  agiographis,  or  painter 
of  saints ;  and  connoisseurs  esteemed  him  the  Apelles  of 
our  district  in  that  line.  His  spouse  sat  for  all  his  Vir- 
gins ;  and  accordingly  as  she  behaved  well  or  ill,  he  used 
to  paint  them  handsome  or  ugly :  a  practice  which  kept 
her  very  much  upon  her  good  behaviour.  She  was  con- 
ceited about  her  looks,  and  wasted  as  much  paint  upon 
her  cheeks  as  her  husband  did  upon  his  canvass;  a  cir- 
cumstance, however,  which  produced  a  striking  resem- 
blance between  the  portraits  and  tlie  original. 

As  to  my  youngest  sister,  she  deemed  a  two  years' 
obedience,  well  or  ill  performed,  to  a  single  lord  and 
master,  quite  trial  enough  for  a  woman  in  this  world. 
Her  husband  djang,  she  took  the  habit  of  a  caloyera,*  in 
a  nunnery  near  the  delightful  district  of  the  Lentiscs. 
There,  the  interest  of  her  portion,  together  with  the  pro- 
duce of  her  handiwork,  enabled  her  to  set  up,  according  to 
the  practice  of  our  religious  communities,  an  independent 
establishment;  and  to  entertain  her  friends,  of  both  sexes, 
in  a  manner  at  once  comfortable  and  decorous. 

*  Caloyera— a  nun,  as  caloyer  means  a  friar. 


8  ANASTASIPS. 

What  shall  I  say  of  my  brothers  1  The  eldest  was  a 
loose  and  dissipated  youth.  To  cure  him  of  his  extrava- 
gance, my  father  had  him  nailed  to  the  desk  of  the 
strictest  merchant  of  Smyrna.  The  consequence  was, 
that  instead  of  the  clerk  staying  at  home,  desk,  contents, 
and  all  followed  him  out  of  doors ;  until,  in  a  notorious 
tavern,  the  well-tempered  Brescia  blade  of  a  Zantiote 
captain  put  an  end  to  his  prowess,  and  saved  him  the 
mortification  of  being  returned  on  our  hands  as  a  hope- 
less profligate.  Of  all  the  family  I  felt  the  most  grieved 
for  his  loss.  He  had  a  dark  complexion,  and  a  fine,  com- 
manding figure.  I  looked  upon  Theodore  with  a  certain 
veneration,  as  the  prop  of  the  house  ;  and  had  purposed 
some  day  to  take  him  for  ni}'^  model. 

The  dove  is  not  more  distinguished  from  the  gamecock, 
than  differed  from  the  noisy  blustering  Theodore  the  sly 
demure  Eustathius,  destined  to  succeed  my  father  in  his 
place  of  drogueman.  A  sleek,  smoth-spoken,  sanctified 
lad,  with  a  round  face  and  a  red  and  white  complexion, 
Eustathius,  besides  that  little  treasure  his  own  dear  self, 
which  he  always  kept  with  the  utmost  care,  valued  but 
one  other  thing  in  this  world,  namely,  money.  Of  this, 
after  a  long  courtship,  he  had  the  good  fortune,  through 
dint  of  unabating  perseverance,  to  marry  a  prodigious 
heap,  encumbered,  however,  with  a  wary  Avidow  its 
mistress,  who,  after  four  distinct  refusals,  at  last  conde- 
scended to  accept  my  brother  as  her  slave,  under  the 
name  of  her  husband.  But  the  chains  Eustathius  wore 
were  of  massy  gold ;  and  all  he  wanted  was  the  pleasure 
of  contemplating  their  glitter. 

Constantine,  my  third  brother,  managed  the  farm. 
This  hopeful  youth,  only  a  few  years  older  than  myself, 
used  to  hate  me  witli  singular  asperity;  though  I  never 
could  account  for  it,  except  that  he  was  crooked,  and  I, 
unfortunately,  straight :  an  offence,  however,  which  so 
many  others  shared  with  me,  that  he  must  have  hated 
the  whole  human  race — as  perliaps  he  did.  It  is  true,  I 
mu'-h  aggravated  my  crime  l)y  one  day  observing,  on  his 
talking  slightingly  of  tljc  advantages  of  a  handsome 
person,  that  "tliey  were  what  none  aflfected  to  despise, 
except  such  as  could  not  make  good  their  claim  to  them;" 
— I  thought  he  would  have  stabbed  me. 

After  all  the  rest  of  the  brood  had  taken  wing,  I 
remained  alone  at  home,  to  solace  my  parents.  Too 
fond  of  their  favourite  to  damp  my  youtliful  spirits  by 


ANASTASIUS.  9 

fitting  me  for  a  profession,  they  kindly  put  off  from  day 
to  day  everj'  spocies  of  instruction,  probably,  till  I  should 
beg  for  it;  which  my  discretion  forbade.  Unfortunately, 
nature  chose  not,  in  the  mean  time,  to  be  equally  dilatory 
with  my  parents;  and  from  an  angel  of  an  infant,  I  by 
degrees  became  a  great  lubberly  boy,  without  any  other 
accomplishment  but  tliat  of  flogging  my  top  with  the  left 
hand,  wliile  with  the  right  I  despatched  my  sign  of  the 
<;ross :  for  in  some  things  I  understood  the  value  of  time. 
My  parents,  as  may  be  supposed,  were  great  sticklers  for 
punctuality  in  every  sort  of  devout  practice ;  mass-going, 
confession,  lent  observance,  &c.  Of  moral  duties — less 
tan^fible  in  their  nature — they  had,  poor  souls,  but  a 
vague  and  confused  notion ;  and  the  criminality  of 
actions,  in  reference  to  one's  neighbour,  they  taught  me 
chiefly  to  estimate  according  to  the  greater  or  smaller 
risk  connected  with  them  of  incurring  the  bastinado  from 
the  Turks.  As  to  manual  correction  at  the  hands  of  my 
own  father,  it  seemed  so  desirable  a  circumstance,  from 
the  ample  amends  my  mother  never  friiled  to  make  me 
for  her  husband's  cruelty  to  her  poor  boy,  that  my  only 
despair  was  at  being  able  to  obtain  it 'so  seldom. 

Having  contented  themselves  for  a  reasonable  number 
of  years  with  wistfully  contemplating — the  drogueman 
my  active  make  and  well  set  limbs,  and  the  drogue- 
maness  my  dark  eyes,  ruddy  cheeks,  and  raven  locks — 
they  at  last  began  to  ponder  how  they  might  turn  these 
gifts  to  the  best  advantage.  Both  agreed  that  some- 
thing should  be  done,  but  neither  knew  exactly  what; 
and  the  one  never  proposed  a  profession,  wliich  the 
other  did  not  immediately  object  to — until  an  old  rela- 
tion stepped  in  between  and  recommended  the  church 
as  a  never-failing  resource  to  those  who  can  think  of  no 
other.  ]\Iy  cousin  had  set  the  example  l)y  making  his 
own  son  a  little  cnloyer  at  twelve.  Proliibited  by  the 
Turks  from  the  trade  of  a  soldier,  and  by  my  parents 
from  that  of  a  sailor,  I  myself  saw  nothing  better,  and 
agreed  to  the  pro;)o.sal.  It  now  became  necessary  to 
give  me  a  smattering  of  learning,  and  I  was  put  under 
the  tuition  of  a  teacher  of  the  Hellenic  language,  who 
assumed  the  title  of  logiotatos,  and  only  averred  himself 
inferior  to  Demosthenes  out  of  sheer  modesty.  My 
idleness  got  the  better  of  my  preceptor's  learning  and 
diligence.  All  the  gold  that  flowed  from  the  lips  of 
St.  Chrvsostom,  his  favourite,  could  not.  to  my  taste, 
A3 


10  ANASTASIUS. 

gild  the  bitter  pill  of  his  lessons ;  and  even  Homer,  much 
as  I  liked  fighting  out  of  doors,  found  but  an  indifferent 
"welcome  in  school  hours.  The  truth  is  1  had  a  dislike 
to  reading-  m  the  abstract;  but  when  ^.vay  from  my 
books  I  affected  a  great  admiration  for  Achilles ;  called 
him — in  reference  to  P^pir'^  the  land  of  my  ancestors — 
my  countryman;  and  rej  '         was  not  born  two 

thousand  years  ago,  for  n^  )ose  but  to  be  his 

Patroclus.     In  my  fits  of  ht  iwore  to  treat  the 

Turks  as  he  had  done  the  Troja  for  a  time  dreamed 

of  nothing  but  putting  to  the  swo  .c  whole  seraglio— r 
dwarfs,  eunuchs,  and  all.  Thes*^  dreams  my  parents 
highly  admired,  but  advised  me  l^ot  tr>  "^ivulge.  "  Just 
rancour,"  they  said,  "  should  be  '  '  -  -  up  to  give  it 
more  strength." — Upon  this  principle  the^' cringed  to  the 
ground  to  eveiy  Moslemin*  they  met. 

The  inclinations  of  the  little  fu'  .asf  for  the 

church  militant  meantime  began  to  '-  ear  '4iore  promi- 
nently. I  had  collected  a  troop  of  gamuthns  of  my 
own  age,  of  whom  I  got  myself  duH,  sd  captain ;  pur- 
loined from  my  uncle,  tlie  painter,  one  of 'lis  most  smirk- 
ing Madonnas  for  a  banner ;  and  under '  the  auspices  of 
the  PanagiaJ  set  about  robbing  orchards,  and  laying 
under  contribution  the  villagers,  with  all  the  devotion 
imaginable.  So  great  was  the  terror  our  crusades 
inspired,  that  the  sufferers  durst  not  even  complain, 
except  in  a  body.  Whenever,  as  chief  of  the  band,  I 
became  the  marked  object  of  animadversion,  I  kept  out 
of  the  way  until  my  father  had  paid  the  damage,  and 
sued  my  pardon  for  his  ba(;kwardness  in  doing  so.  Once, 
indeed,  when  tired  of  my  pranks,  he  swore  I  would  be 
his  ruin,  I  begged  he  would  quiet  his  fears,  by  granting 
me  an  unlimited  leave  of  absence;  pledging  myself  not 
to  return  till  doomsday.  This  was  too  much  for  him. 
Sooner  than  part  with  his  Anastasius,  he  would  have 
bribed  the  peasants  beforehand  to  suffer  all  my  depre- 
dations. 

Thus  early  disposed  and  trained  to  the  business  of 
tithing,  my  father  felt  a  little  smprised  when,  on  the  eve 
of  taking  orders,  1  begged  to  be  excused.  For  the  first 
time  in  his  life,  Signor  Sotiri  insisted  on  implicit  obe- 
dience ;  but  that  first  time  came  too  late.     I  made  it  the 

*  Moslemin— a  true  believer;  title  assumed  by  ttie  Mohammedans. 

t  I'apas — Oreek  pricHt. 

I  Paiiagia— lUeaU-holy  :  tlie  virgin. 


ANASTASIUS,  11 

last,  by  swearing  that  if  h^  forced  me  to  take  the  mitre* 
I  would  clap  over  it  a  turoan.  He  gave  way,  and  con- 
tented himself  with  quietly  asking  what  I  finally  meant 
to  do.  "No;.'jing,"  was  the  answer  of  my  heart:  but 
the  profession  of  doing  nothing  rpquires  ample  means.  I 
therefore  pretended  a  wish  to  learn  trade.  My  father 
forthwith  wrote  to  a  Sr  ,  'jj,merchant  of  his  acquaint- 
ance to  receive  me  into^J    ,    ^ilmting-house. 

Meantime  I  found  an  ..oyinent  for  my  leisure  hours, 
wliich  put  an  end  to  a'  ^ildish  pastimes.  Signer  Sotiri, 
though,  as  before-m^''.^..ioned,  a  little  hard  of  hearing, 
wanted  not  fluency  ,.1  speech.  His  oratory  had  chiefly 
been  exerted  t  rem-^r  his  patron  dumb.  He  constantly 
represented  *  'low  absolutely  the  dignity  of  his 

station  forb"  ^  lus  i  iving  the  least  conversation  with  the 
natives*  "^w  incumbent  upon  him  it  was,  though 

born  •  If  u^  '-e  Levant,  to  appear  not  to  understand 
a  si  .do       s  idioms.     By  this  device  he  kept  all 

the  speeciufyinc  himself;  and  in  truth,  with  the  Turks 
in  office,  at  all  nes  more  prone  than  strict  politeness 
permits  to  co'^vdment  the  representatives  of  Christian 
powers  with  the  titles  of  "infidel,  yaoor,t  Christian 
dog,"  &c.,  and  at  th.s  particular  juncture  more  than 
usually  out  of  humour  in  consequence  of  the  Russian 
war,J  this  was  often  the  only  way  to  save  the  consular 
pride  from  some  little  rubs,  othei  vise  unavoidable  in  the 
necessary  intercourse  with  the  government.     Hence  Mr. 

de  M not  only  never  stirred  from  home  without  his 

interpreter  by  his  side,  but  had  him  constantly  at  his 
elbow  within  doors;  and  made  liim  the  sole  channel  of 
all  his  official  transactions:  a  circumstance  which  my 
father  perfectly  knew  how  to  turn  to  the  best  advantage. 

I  too,  in  my  capacity  as  the  drogueman's  chief  assistant 
and  messenger,  was  in  daily  attendance  at  the  consular 
mansion ;  which  proved  useful  to  me  in  one  respect,  as  it 
gave  m?  an  opportunity  of  learning  the  French  language, 
and  that  with  the  greater  fluency,  from  the  circumstance 
of  no  one  offiiring  expressly  to  teach  me.  The  old  con- 
sul havin'T,  between  his  dignity  with  the  Greeks  and  his 
punctilio  with  the  Turks,  but  little  society,  I  soon  became, 
by  the  sprightliness  of  my  repartees,  a  very  great  favour- 

*  The  mitre — the  cap  of  the  Greek  priesthood. 

t  Yaoor— infidel ;  word  of  abuse  frequently  used  by  the  Turks  in  reference 
to  Cliristi.in-i. 

t  The  Russian  war — namely  that  which  ended  in  1774,  by  the  peace  of 
KainarJgee. 


12  ANASTASIUS. 

ite.    Mr.  de  M not  only  encouraged  me  to  take  a 

part  in  conversation,  but  would  even  condescend  to  laugh 
most  heartily  both  at  my  witticisms  and  my  practical 
jokes,  whenever  neither  himself,  nor  his  servants,  nor 
his  relations,  nor  his  fiiends,  nor  his  proteges,  were  iii 
the  least  implicated  in  them,  or  made  to  feel  the  conse- 
quences. 

Mr.  de  M had  an  only  daughter,  the  blue-eyed 

Helena,  the  child  of  his  old  age.  Deprived  of  a  mother's 
watchful  care,  this  lovely  girl  was  allowed  in  her  father's 
house  an  unrestrained  latitude,  and  availed  herself  of  her 
privilege  with  all  the  freedom  of  unsuspecting  innocence. 
Her  father,  without  being  fond  of  music,  loved  the  sound 
of  an  instrument.  The  daughter  had  been  taught  the 
harpsichord ;  but,  full  of  life  and  spirits,  she  hated  the 
mechanical  drudgery  of  running  over  the  cold,  clumsy 
keys  of  a  huge  cumbrous  fixture,  to  which  the  performer, 
she  thought,  looked  a  mere  appendage.  Our  light  port- 
able lyre,  which  tlie  arms  so  gracefully  encircl  ?,  and  the 
fingers  touch  so  lightl}',  she  would  learn  to  play  upon 
most  readily — could  she  but  find  a  proper  master.  "  Who 
more  so,"  thought  I,  "  than  the  son  of  the  father's  inter- 
preter]" and  forthwith  offered  my  services.  Though  but 
H  moderate  performer,  I  had  the  advantage  of  always 
being  at  hand,  and  without  being  positively  either  ac- 
cepted or  refused,  was  soon  employed. 

Parents !  who  do  not  particularly  wish  your  daughters 
to  fall  in  love  with  the  teachers,  above  all  things  avoid 
admitting  under  your  roof  any  music  masters,  except  such 
as  are  antidotes  to  that  passion.  Where  harmony  alone 
is  to  rule  the  sense,  how  can  souls  remain  uiiattuned  to 
each  other  ]  The  boy's  hand,  in  guiding  the  ta[)er  fingers 
of  his  pupil,  will  sometimes  make  them  stray  from  her 
chords  to  his  heart,  and  mistake  for  the  vibrations  of  the 
one,  the  pulsations  of  the  other.  The  very  lips  of  the  fair 
one,  accustomed  to  re-echo  the  sounds  of  hnr  teacher's 
voice,  will  by  degrees  respond  to  his  feelings;  and  he 
who  has  so  many  means  of  disclosing  his  passion,  and  of 
insinuating  a  reciprocal  warmth,  without  any  imputation 
of  forwardness,  or  breach  of  respect,  will  be  more  anxious 
10  interpret  the  sounds  he  utters  than  to  disavow  their 
sense. 

For  my  part,  I  almost  immediately  felt  my  heart  on 
fire,  and  soon  Helena  too  caught  the  consuming  flame. 
Nothing  could  tear  us  away  from  each  other.     The  duets, 


ANASTASIUS.  13 

begun  in  the  heat  of  the  day  within  doors,  were  repeated 
in  the  cool  of  the  evening  on  the  stone  seat  before  the 
Jiouse.  Sighs  interrupted  the  songs :  and  when  the  ad- 
vancing night  forced  Helena  to  retire,  her  blue  eyes  looked 
like  drooping  violets  steeped  in  dew. 

The  consul  had  destined  his  little  favourite,  as  soon 
as  arrived  at  a  suitable  age,  to  a  rich  young  Smyrniote, 
nephew  to  his  correspondent.  lie  dreamed  not  of  the 
possibility  of  her  falling  in  love  with  a  Greek  boy,  habited 
in  the  dress  of  the  country,  and  the  son  of  his  interpreter. 
It  was  rather  a  gratification  to  him,  on  seeing  us  so  much 
together,  to  think  that  in  her  solitude  she  should  have 
found  the  harmless  pastime  of  our  concerts. 

My  father  saw  deeper  into  the  business.  Had  he  con- 
ceived it  likely  to  end  in  a  marriage,  and  that  marriage 
likely  to  bring  his  family  any  accession  of  weight  or  of 
fortune,  he  would,  I  make  no  doubt,  have  become  as  blind 
as  he  was  deaf;  but  this  he  by  no  means  thought  proba- 
ble. The  old  consul  was  a  good  deal  distressed ;  his 
salary  must  cease  with  his  life,  and  he  had  nothing  to 
leave  his  daughter  at  his  death  but  his  consular  pride ; 
"  and  with  that  portion,"  observed  my  father,  "  she  might 
indeed  become  a  gem  of  the  first  water  in  the  hands  of  a 
rich  Smyrna  merchant,  who  would  set  her  in  gold,  but 
round  our  bare  necks  she  could  only  prove  a  millstone." 
He  therefore  warned  me  against  carrying  the  intimacy 
too  far. 

His  caution  came  too  late.  The  less  experience  ray 
pupil  at  first  brought  to  her  lessons,  the  more  rapid  was 
the  progress  slie  made  under  my  tuition.  Love's  fullest 
harmony  was  struck,  almost  ere  she  suspected  it  whis- 
pered in  our  sighs.  Indeed,  so  much  was  she  still  in  the 
first  spring  of  her  innocence,  that  she  scarce  seemed 
aware  that  in  due  time  blossoms  turned  to  fruits,  until 
taught  by  experience.  Then  only  she  grew  frightened, 
and  at  first  sobbed  incessantly ;  but  by  degrees,  persuading 
herself  that  our  attachment,  vvhen  divulged,  must  end  in 
ourperm;inent  union,  she  recovered  a  kind  of  composure, 
and  resolved  to  let  the  discovery  take  its  course ;  neitlier 
liastening  the  dis(;losure,  nor  yet  trying  to  avert  it,  arid 
rather  rejoicing  than  dismayed  that  the  slim  Perote* 
dress  which  she  wore  for  the  sake  of  consular  dignity 
must  betray  the  secret  of  her  fathers  villa  sooner  than  the 

*  The  slim  Perote  dress— that  worn  by  the  Greek  women  of  Pera,  and  of 
the  contineital  provinces,  wholly  diflereiit  from  that  of  the  islands. 


14  ANASTASIUS. 

ample  involutions  of  which  our  females  so  well  know  the 

advantages. 

I  by  no  means  sympathized  in  tliis  calmness,  or  agreed 
in  these  wishes.  What  the  too-confiding  Helena  looked 
upon  as  the  harbour  in  which  her  inquietudes  must  end, 
my  father  had  taught  me  to  consider  as  the  quicksand  on 
which  all  my  hopes  must  perish.  I  therefore  tried  to 
im])ress  Helena  with  my  utter  inability  to  support  her  as 
my  wife;  and  with  the  expedience  of  her  enabling  the 
consul,  by  a  timely  confession,  to  save  her  honour  with- 
out my  inadequate  assistance. 

To  the  fair  one  flushed  with  love  tlie  least  proffer  of 
prudential  considerations  is  an  insult.  Exasperated  at 
my  discreet  suggestions,  Helena  treated  me  with  haugh- 
tiness— with  contempt.  "When  she  could  bring  herself 
to  stoop  to  my  lowness,  did  I  fear  any  sacrifice  that  raised 
me  to  her  level  ]" 

Feelings  such  as  mine  could  ill  brook  this  taunting 
speech.  To  be  told  I  was  to  consider  as  an  honour  be- 
yond my  deserts  the  penniless  hand  of  one  whose  heart 
had  attested  too  warmly  my  merits, — was  this  to  be 
endured?  All  the  blood  of  Achilles  rose  within  me;  I 
ran  to  the  quay,  and  there  let  it  rage  in  unison  with  the 
foaming  breakers. 

As  long  as  the  Smyrna  scheme  had  remained  in  sus- 
pense, I  saw  an  opening  through  which  to  escape ;  but  my 
father  had  just  received  a  flat  refusal  in  that  quarter.  The 
merchant  to  whom  he  applied  in  my  behalf,  acquainted 
with  my  brother's  adventures,  felt  little  anxious  for  au- 
otlier  scion  of  the  same  stock. 

Tills  disa[)pointment  had  soured  my  fatlu^r's  temper, 
and  disposed  him  to  visit  on  me  t)ie  sins  of  my  brother. 
Having  begun  my  education  at  tlie  wrong  end,  Ity  leaviiig 
me  every  species  of  latitude,  when  he  might  easily  have 
(;urbed  my  licentious  disjiositioii,  he  now  gave  it  the  fin- 
ishing touch  equ;illy  injudiciously,  by  trying,  after  my 
unbridled  habits  had  liecome  confirmed,  to  restrain  me 
even  in  what  I  considered  as  reasonable  freedom.  I  now 
was  thwarted  in  every  wish,  deprived  of  every  indul- 
gence; and  all  this,  apparently,  for  no  other  fault,  except 
that  from  a  chubb\r  prattling  child,  to  be  hushed  with  toys 
and  sweetmeats,  I  had  not  prevented  myself  from  growing 
into  a  slouching,  thoughtful  youth,  who  too  often  de- 
manded a  supply  of  solid  cash. 

My  mother,  too,  was  to  me  an  altered  woman.     The 


ANASTASIUS.  15 

moment  I  no  longer  submitted  to  be  fondled  like  a  baby,  she 
transferred  her  affections — against  all  rule  and  precedent 
— from  me  to  the  one  among  us  who  had  neither  the 
claims  of  the  youngest  nor  of  the  eldest — to  Constantine. 
His  hump  had  evidently  operated  the  revolution  in  his 
favour;  but  whether,  by  making  my  mother  wish  to  con- 
sole him  for  this  defect,  or  by  causing  her  to  consider  him 
as  endowed  with  an  additional  perfection,  I  never  could 
make  out.  Certain  it  is,  she  used  to  gaze  on  his  back  as 
she  before  had  done  on  my  face,  until  her  admiration 
sometimes  put  his  own  modesty  to  the  blush. 

Not  habituated  early  enough  to  filial  submission,  I  no 
sooner  felt  the  weight  of  parental  authority,  than  I  began 
to  question  its  justice ;  and  able  to  derive  its  rights  only 
from  the  voluntary  concession  of  the  child,  while  its  fee- 
bleness forces  it  to  barter  obedience  for  food,  I  considered 
its  continuance,  when  the  boy,  enabled  to  earn  his  own 
livelihood,  loudly  demands  his  liberty,  as  a  usvn-pation. 
Long,  therefore,  had  I  been  meditating  to  seize  some  op- 
portunity of  eluding  the  parental  yoke,  even  before  I  got 
entangled  in  the  snares  of  love.  The  wound  which  my 
mistress  inflicted  on  my  pride  added  new  incentives  to 
this  resolution,  and,  after  her  mortifying  speech,  the  only 
wish  my  mind  remained  capable  of  forming  was,  to 
abandon  father,  mother,  mistress,  friends,  relations,  and 
home  for  ever.  Indeed,  no  way  in  which  I  might  sever 
myself  from  Helena  seemed  to  me  unfair,  when  I  con- 
sidered the  stamp  of  humiliating  selfishness  she  had  cho- 
sen to  imprint  upon  my  constancy. 

My  brain  thus  in  a  ferment,  I  entered  the  first  tavern  I 
found  open ;  and,  though  by  no  means  addicted  to  intem- 
perance, drank  off  draught  after  draught  of  our  strongest 
wine,  until  the  houses  in  the  street  seemed  familiarly  to 
nod  to  tlie  ships  on  the  wave. 

Among  these  latter  lay  in  the  road  a  Venetian  brig, 
ready  for  its  departure.  While  I  sat  pondering  over  my 
grievances,  the  evening  breeze  sprung  up,  and  the  song 
of  the  sailors  on  board  marked  the  heaving  of  the  anchor. 
I  accepted  it  as  the  summons  of  putting  my  design  into 
execution.  Running  out  of  the  house,  I  was  soon  rowed 
to  the  vessel,  and  reached  it  just  as  the  sails  were  unfurl- 
ing. I  offered  my  services  to  the  captain.  He  had  lost 
half  his  crew  in  his  last  Egyptian  caravan  ;*  but  still  would 

*  Caravan— word  applied  in  the  Levant  to  voyages  of  msrcl'.ant  slups,  as 
well  as  to  laud  journeys  l!'  merchants  and  goods. 


16  ANASTASIUS. 

only  receive  me  as  a  simple  cabin-boy.  The  oiRce  seemed 
little  suited  to  the  son  of  a  drogueman,  whose  garment 
alone,  1  thought,  should  sweep  the  deck;  but  it  was  not 
a  time  to  bargain,  and  I  submitted.  I  crept  into  the  hold 
among  the  ballast,  until  we  should  be  out  of  reach  of 
pursuit,  and  when  informed  of  my  safety,  jumped  upon 
the  deck,  and  ran  to  the  stern  to  see  what  way  we  had 
made. 

The  moon  was  just  rising  in  all  her  splendour,  and  a 
bar  of  silvery  light  ran  across  the  spangled  waves.  The 
gradually  increasing  breeze  rapidly  carried  us  out  of  the 
straits  of  Cliio.  The  different  objects  on  the  shore — moun- 
tains, valleys,  villages,  and  steej)les — seemed  in  swift  suc- 
cession, first  advancing  to  meet  us,  then  halting  an  instant 
opposite  our  vessel  to  greet  us  on  our  passage,  and  lastly, 
again  gliding  off,  soon  entirely  to  vanish  away ;  until, 
launched  into  tlie  open  main,  we  saw  the  whole  line  of 
coast  more  faintly  marked,  and  gradually  disappearing  in 
distant  darkness. 

Various  and  opposite  were  the  feelings  which,  as  I 
stood  contemplating  the  luminous  track  we  left  in  the 
rippling  wave,  agitated  my  Ijosom ;  but  whatever  direc- 
tion I  tried  to  give  to  my  thoughts,  they  always  reverted 
to  Helena.  In  vain  I  souglit  to  banish  from  my  guilt- 
struck  fancy  her  upbraiding  image.  As  if  in  mockery  of 
my  endeavours,  it  seemed  to  assume  a  tangible  shape.  I 
persuaded  myself  I  actually  beheld  the  pale  form  of  my 
mistress,  half  rising,  with  her  liair  all  dishevelled,  from 
the  roaring  billows,  follow  the  fleeting  ship,  and  with 
piteous  moans  call  me  back  to  lier  outstretched  arms.  I 
wished  I  could  have  staid  the  swift-moving  mass,  and 
have  rendered,  by  some  magic  spell,  the  rapidly-recedhig 
keel  a  motionless  rock  on  the  wave,  in  order  to  enable 
tlie  dear  phantom  to  join  me;  or,  at  least,  in  order  to 
have  a  few  instants  more  to  reflect  on  my  conduct  and 
to  retract  my  errors,  ere  the  opportunity  should  pass  by 
foi  ever.  In  vain !  I  felt  as  if  an  uncontrollable  force 
kept  impelling  me  on;  and  at  last,  "  It  is  useless,"  I  ex- 
claimed, "  to  contend !  I  feel  it — I  must  yield  to  my  des- 
tiny— I  must  perform  the  things  set  down  for  me,  be 
they  good  or  be  they  evil !" 

As  the  dawn  began  to  dispel  the  dark  visions  of  the 
night,  as  the  sun  rose  in  all  his  glory  to  pervade  the  blue 
expanse  of  the  heavens,  and  the  returning  day  showed 
Chio  like  a  faint  cloud  floating  on  the  utmost  verge  of 


ANASTASIUS.  17 

the  waters,  ray  thoughts  assumed  a  brighter  hue ;  my 
heart  felt  the  weight  upon  it  Hghtened  ;  and  the  idea  that 
I  now  was  going  to  explore  those  distant  realms  which 
I  so  long  had  yearned  after,  filled  me  with  expectation 
and  delight. 

Yet  even  this  new  joy  was  mixed  with  a  terror  of  its 
own.  At  no  period  of  my  life  had  I  yet  outstepped  the 
narrow  pale  of  my  native  island,  or  obtained  so  much 
as  a  peep  at  the  nearest  objects  beyond  the  straits  by 
which  it  was  bounded.  Crossing  over  to  the  neighbour- 
ing islets  seemed  to  me  a  long  voyage.  Smyrna  had 
been,  in  my  imagination,  the  utmost  limit  of  the  habitable 
globe ;  and  as  to  Europe,  I  deemed  it  to  lie  somewhere 
not  far  from  the  antipodes.  Tiie  unbounded  prospect  of 
the  whole  wide  world  bursting  all  at  once  upon  me 
struck  my  young  heart  with  awe ;  and  the  sight  of  nothing 
around  me  but  strangers  utterly  unknown  and  indifferent 
to  my  fate  was  sad  and  appalling. 

Soon,  however,  I  was  recalled  from  these  vague  and 
indistinct  reflections  by  feelings  more  definite  and  more 
immediately  connected  with  my  present  situation.  I  had 
scarce  closed  my  eyes,  when  the  captain,  not  wishing 
that  I  should  have  unpleasant  dreams,  or  any  dreams  at 
all,  with  a  familiar  tap  oa  the  shoulder  reminded  me  that 
it  was  time  to  begin  earning  my  passage,  and  handed  me 
over  to  his  crew  to  instruct  me  in  my  task.  Mine  no 
longer  were  indulgent  teachers ;  and  from  being  the  little 
tyrant  of  my  father's  domestics,  I  now  found  myself  the 
slave  of  every  common  sailor.  While  my  companions — 
my  masters  I  should  say — sat  down  to  their  meals,  I  had 
to  fast ;  and  when  they  slept,  I  must  watch.  Their 
scanty  leavings  were  my  food,  and  it  was  only  now  and 
then  tiiat  I  could  snatch  from  my  constant  toil  a  few  mo- 
ments of  hurried  and  broken  rest.  Whatever  awkward- 
ness I  showed  was  followed  by  immediate  blows ;  nay, 
it  became  a  standing  joke  to  call  me  to  different  places 
at  once,  that  I  might  in  some  incur  the  punishment  of 
unavoidable  delay.  My  appeals  to  the  mercy  or  justice 
of  those  around  me  were  treated  with  equal  derision. 

As  I  found  it  useless  to  complain,  I  stifled  my  feelings, 
and  only  kept  watching  an  opportunity  for  escape  or  re- 
venge. This  made  me  particularly  observant  of  all  the 
manoeuvres  of  the  captain,  some  of  which  seemed  suffi- 
ciently strange.  At  times,  for  instance,  when  not  a  cloud 
was  to  be  seen  in  the  sky,  he  would  pretend  to  expect 


18  ANASTASIUS. 

foul  weather,  and  run  for  shelter  under  some  lonely  cliff, 
where  he  seemed  more  intent  upon  looking  out  for  some- 
thing on  the  water  than  in  the  air ;  and  though  he  affected 
vast  displeasure  at  the  unceasing  drunkenness  of  his 
crew,  one  could  almost  have  sworn  that  he  put  flasks  of 
brandy  purposely  in  their  way. 

One  evening,  in  a  profound  calm,  and  while  all  the 
sailors,  drunk  as  fishes,  were  capering  round  a  tall  pole 
crowned  with  myrtle,  a  boatful  of  Maynote*  pirates,  con- 
cealed 'oehind  the  rocks  of  Antiparos,  stole  unperceived 
under  our  stern,  and  climbed  up  by  the  poop  into  the 
cabin.  The  master,  who  just  before  had  gone  below  on 
some  errand,  and  had  been  seized  in  the  midst  of  his 
business  with  a  most  unaccountable  fit  of  sleeping,  was 
soon  laid  hold  of  and  gagged.  All  the  stand  of  arms, 
neatly  arranged  round  the  room,  were  next  secured;  and 
the  pirates,  now  rushing  up  stairs,  easily  mastered  the 
few  among  the  sailors  who  were  still  able  to  stand  upon 
their  legs,  while  they  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  bind  hands 
and  feet  the  remainder,  lying  about  the  deck  in  a  state 
of  perfect  insensibility. 

Amid  the  general  intoxication,  I  had  been  kept  sober 
by  my  grief,  and  happened  to  stand  near  the  cabin-door, 
just  when,  at  the  winHow  opjiusite  ajjpeared  the  ugly 
features  of  the  foremost  of  the  Maynotes,  who  was  pre- 
paring to  slip  in.  My  figure  caught  his  vigilant  eye 
as  he  advanced  his  head;  when,  drawing  it  back,  he  put 
his  finger  on  his  mouth,  and  frowned  most  formidable 
threats  should  I  disobey  the  sign.  To  this  I  felt  not  in 
the  least  inclined.  I  might,  indeed,  by  giving  the  alarm 
immediately,  have  saved  the  crew  from  the  captain's 
treachery ;  but  all  had  used  me  ill  alike.  I  therefore  an- 
swered the  command  by  a  gesture  of  ready  compliance, 
and  let  things  take  their  course. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  fray,  the  pirates  affected  to 
treat  the  captain  very  outrageously  ;  but  this  appearance 
of  enniity  soon  subsided,  and  by  degrees  they  sat  down 
amicably  together,  like  old  friends  who  understand  each 
other's  ways.  Having  so  handsomely  performed  my 
neutral  part  in  the  business,  I  now  was  thinking  to  ap- 
proach and  put  in  my  claim,  if  not  for  poundage,  at  least 
for  hush-money,  when  a  new  incident  most  provokingly 
blew  up  the  well-concerted  scheme. 

*  Maynoie — native  of  the  peninsula  of  M;iyi">(  wliose  inhabitants  are  at' 
most  aJl  pirates, 


AXASTASIUS.  19 

It  happened,  that  just  at  this  juncture  the  famous  Has- 
san capitan-pasha*  was  in  the  act  of  delivering  the  Morea 
from  its  Arnaootf  oppressors.  One  of  his  caravellas,J: 
stationed  before  JVaupUa,  by  chance  espied  our  doings, 
and  immediately  gave  us  chase.  She  soon  obliged  us  to 
bruig  to ;  but  instead  of  liberating  the  vessel,  treated  her 
as  a  lawful  prize.  It  is  true,  that  while  the  Turks  tied 
the  pirates  back  to  back,  they  only  handcufll.d  the  real 
owners.  The  captain  shared  the  fate  of  his  crew.  Thus 
was  poetical  justice  dealt  out  to  all  except  n.yself;  and 
thus  was  1,  hapless  Greek,  compelled,  in  the  space  of 
four  days,  to  bear  the  yoke  of  four  different  nations — 
French,  Venetians,  Maynotes,  and  Turks.  Whether  I 
gained  by  the  last  change,  or  only  fell  from  Cnarybdis 
upon  Scylla,  I  can  only  relate  after  I  have  premised  a 
short  account  of  the  celebrated  expedition  which  I  was 
so  unexpectedly  made  to  witness. 


CHAPTER  H. 

In  the  first  war  between  the  Russians  and  tire  Turks, 
the  most  natural  proceeding  for  Russia  would  liave  been, 
to  attack  Turkey  from  its  southern  extremity,  where  the 
two  countries  joined.  The  most  surprising  was,  to  send 
an  armament  from  its  northern  shores,  where  the  Russian 
and  the  Turkish  empires  were  separated  b}  the  whole 
intervening  diameter  of  Europe ;  and  w  hence  its  entire 
circumference  of  coast  was  to  be  sailed  round  before 
Russians  and  Turks  could  meet.  This,  therefore,  was 
the  measure  preferred;  and  the  Russian  fleet  had  win- 
tered in  its  progress  at  Leghorn,  ere  its  commanders 
w^ere  determined  in  which  part  of  Turkey  to  strike  the 
first  blow.  The  Greeks  decided  the  question  for  them. 
A  few  turbulent  Codgea-bashees^  of  the  Morea,  fearing 
the  lash  of  ihe  Turkish  governor  of  the  province,  sent  to 
the  Russian  commanders  a  forged  plan  of  insurrection, 

*  Capitan-pasha — commander-in-chief  of  the  Turkish  navy. 

t  Arnaoot — Turkish  name  given  to  the  Albanians  who  profess  the  Moham- 
medan religion,  and  form  the  body-guard  of  many  of  the  Turkish  pashas. 

t  Caravellas — frigates. 

5  Codgea-basUees— heads  of  the  Greek  communities,  accountable  to  tbs 
Turkish  governors  for  the  contribation  imposed  upon  lUeir  districts. 


20  ANASTASIUS. 

as  one  already  organized  ;  and  on  the  return  of  the  depu- 
tation, emplo5^ed  the  promise  of  Russian  assistance  thus 
fraudulently  obtained,  to  produce  the  commotion  they 
had  described  as  ready  to  break  out.  Their  labour  was 
assisted  by  the  Turlcs  tliemselves.  Suspecting  a  plot 
against  them,  these  pusillanimous  oppressors  acted  like 
men  who,  from  the  fear  of  falUng  from  a  precipice,  plunge 
headlong  down  it.  In  their  panic,  they  massacred  a  whole 
troop  of  Zaccuniote  peasants  peaceably  returning  from  a 
fair  at  Patras,  whom  tliey  mistook  for  an  army  of  rebels 
marching  to  attack  them.  The  cry  of  revenge  now  re- 
sounded from  all  quarters ;  and  when,  therefore,  in  the 
spring  of  1770,  the  Russian  fleet  cast  anchor  in  the  bay 
of  Vilulo,  its  commanders  were  received  by  the  bishops 
of  Lacedrernon*  and  of  Christianopolis,  followed  by  Greeks 
of  all  descriptions,  only  begging  as  a  favour  to  enlist 
under  the  Russian  banners.  Fair  as  seemed  this  begin- 
ning, the  understanding  between  the  two  nations  was 
short-lived.  The  (Jreeks  expected  the  Russians  alone  to 
accomplish  the  whole  task  of  their  deliverance.  The 
Russians  had  laid  their  account  with  a  powerful  co-ope- 
ration on  the  part  of  the  Greeks.  Each,  alike  disap- 
pointed, threw  on  the  other  the  blame  of  every  failure. 
Their  s()uabhles  gave  large  troops  of  Arnaoots  time  to 
pour  from  every  neighbouring  point  of  Roumili  into  the 
peninsula;  and  the  Jtussian  commanders,  seeing  all 
chance  of  success  vanish  in  that  quarter,  sailed  higher 
up  the  Arc  hjpelago,  leaving  the  Moreotes  to  their  fate, 
and  carrying  away  no  other  fruits  of  the  momentary  con- 
tact of  Greeks  and  Russians,  but  an  increase  of  rancour 
between  tlie  two  nations. 

The  ferocious  mountaineers  of  Albania,  who,  under 
the  name  of  Arnaoots,  form  a  chief  part  of  the  forces  of 
the  Ottoman  empire,  and  of  the  bodyguard  of  its  various 
pashas,  presented  in  their  rugged  and  yet  colourless 
countenances  the  greatest  possible  contrast  to  the  regu- 
lar featurf's  and  rich  complexionsof  the  Greeks.  In  the 
faith  of  the  two  nations  the  difference  is  less  marked. 
Wavering  for  the  most  part  between  Christ  and  Moham- 
med, the  worship  of  the  Arnaoots  is  generally  determined 
by  the  master  they  serve ;  and  many  of  those  who,  on 
the  spur  of  pay  and  plunder,  came  to  assist  the  Moreote 


*  Lacedimon  and  ChrislianopoUs — two  Orcek  bishopricks  in  the  Morea, 
tbos  denominated. 


ANASTASIUS.  21 

Moslemen  against  the  Christians,  themselves  professed 
the  Christian  faith.  Their  total  number  was  computed 
at  about  twenty  thousand ;  and  when  their  wnk  was 
achieved,  they  demanded  their  wages.  The  money  was 
wanting,  or  at  least  the  pay  was  withheld.  This  fur- 
nished them  with  a  plausible  pretence  for  disbanding  on 
the  spo',  and  paying  themselves,  by  pillaging  tlie  country. 
Some,  after  laying  waste  the  villages,  drove  the  inhabit- 
ants before  them,  like  herds  of  cattle,  through  the  der- 
wens  or  defiles  that  guard  the  entrance  of  the  peninsula, 
and  tluis  regained,  with  their  new  slaves,  their  native 
mountains.  Others  r:!mained  stationary  in  the  Morea : 
by  inst  'lling  themselves  in  the  houses  and  lands  of  the 
Greek  ptJdsantry,  they  deprived  the  soil  of  it«  husband- 
men, and  the  Turks  of  their  subjects;  and  at  last,  finding- 
no  more  rayahs*  to  oppress,  turned  their  violence  against 
the  Moslemen  themselves,  and  treated  like  the  vanquished 
those  wnom  they  had  come  to  defend. 

Nine  following  years  had  seen  eleven  governors  come, 
one  aft  'r  the  other,  with  the  most  peremptory  instruc- 
tions to  'exterminate  the  Iianditti,  and  again  deprrt  with- 
out suc^e.^ing;  some  for  want  of  sufficient  foiL-e  to  re- 
press their  outrages  ;  others,  it  is  said,  for  want  of  suffi- 
cient resolution  to  resist  their  bribes. — At  last  the  Porte 
sent  Hassan. 

By  birth  a  Persian,  by  the  fate  of  war  a  Turkish  slave, 
by  choice  among  the  recruits  yearly  raised  at  Smyrna 
for  the  Barbary  powers,  and  by  his  own  merit  advanced 
to  the  rank  of  port-admiral  of  Algiers,  Hassan-bey  be- 
came at  variance  with  the  dey.  Justice  was  so  entirely 
on  his  side,  that  prudence  urged  his  immediate  flight. 
After  many  wanderings,  he  found  a  patron  at  Constanti- 
nople in  the  famous  Raghib,  grand  vizierf  under  two 
successive  sultans,  and  yet  permitted  to  die  in  his  bed. 
In  the  inemorable  battle  whicli  tJie  Russians,  after  aban- 
doning the  Morei,  gave  the  Turks  in  the  straits  of  Chio, 
he  copimanded  the  admiral-ship  of  the  Turks,  wliich  was 
attack  'd  by  that  of  the  Russians,  while  tlie  two  com- 
mand* rs.  Khassim  and  Orlow,  both  kept  aloof  from  tlie 
fight.     Prevented  by  his  instructions  from  unmooring, 

•  Rayalis  subjects  of  the  Porte,  not  Moliammedan,  who  pay  the  capitation 
tax ;  sucSi  ax  lireeks,  Armenians,  Jews,  and  gipsies. 

tGhrand  Vizier — Ml  pashas  before  whom  are  carried  the  three  horse-tails 
have  the  titic  of  vizier;  bi;t  the  heaa  o*'  that  distinguished  body,  the  lieuten- 
ant of  t!  c  arand  signor,  who  represents  hini  in  his  councils,  i.nc'  commands 
Ilia  armies,  :s  called  by  the  Turks  "^ezir  azeni,  by  the  Franks  yraiul  vizier. 


23  ANASTASIVS. 

Hassan  towed  his  ship  on  its  anchors,  boarded  the  Rus- 
sian vessel,  and  only  threw  himself  into  the  sea,  and 
swam  ashore,  when  both  hulks,  on  fire,  and  blown  up 
together,  mingled  their  wrecks  in  the  sky.  The  sultan, 
seeing  his  navy  annihilated,  and  himself  threatened  with 
bombardment  in  his  seraglio  by  a  fleet  from  the  Baltic, 
now  named  Hassan  his  capiian-pasha,  and  was  saved. 

At  the  peace,  this  commander  exerted  himself  to  form 
a  new  navy,  and  to  introduce  nmong  the  Turks  as  much 
of  European  tactics  as  their  prejudices  could  bear.  He 
had  no  immediate  opportunity  to  try  the  effect  of  his 
improve!'  ents  against  a  foreign  enemy ;  but  in  an  empire 
so  exter:.ive  as  that  founded  by  Othman,  when  age  has 
enfeebled  its  head,  some  distant  extremity  will  always 
refuse  obedience :  and  Hassan  constantly  found  disturb- 
ances to  quell  in  some  quarter.  In  1776,  he  made  the 
Arab  Daher — usurper  of  tlie  sovereignty  of  Acre — atone 
with  his  life  for  the  league  he  had  formed  with  the  Egyp- 
tian rebel  Aly.  The  year  following  he  punished  Daher's 
sons  for  continuing  their  father's  rebellion ;  and  finally,  in 
1779,  he  received  the  sultan's  orders  lo  expel  from  the 
Morea  the  refractory  Arnaoots.  Already  was  his  army 
encamped  in  the  plains  of  Argos,  when  one  of  the  cara- 
vellas  of  his  fleet  stationed  in  the  Bay  of  Nauplia  con- 
veyed our  mixed  party  of  Venetians  and  Maynotes  to 
that  port,  where,  with  my  companions,  I  was — uncere- 
moiiiously  enough — stowed  away  for  the  night  under  a 
strong  guard  in  a  crazy  barn,  wondering  what  was  to 
be  our  fate  the  next  morning. 

The  place  of  our  confinement  had  long  been  the  undis- 
turbed doni:iin  of  swanns  of  mosquitoes,  who,  ignorant 
of  our  unwillingness  to  tre.sf):iss  on  their  premises,  seemed 
determined  to  resist  tlie  encroachment  to  the  utmost. 
The  constant  buzzing  and  stings  of  these  trouldesome 
insects  would  alone  have  sufficed  to  deprive  us  of  all 
chance  of  repose ;  add  to  which  that,  paired  as  we  were 
according  to  the  fancy  of  our  guardians,  and  each  closely 
conne(;ted  with  his  immediate  companion  by  every 
strongest  tie — of  twisted  hemp,  the  blows  which  each 
intended  for  his  winged  enemies  in  general  only  fell 
upon  l.is  pinioned  associate.  Excuses  indeed  hdlowed, 
but  were  of  little  use  in  comp(jsing  us  to  sleep.  My 
other,  but  not  my  better  half  in  this  forced  uiiion,  suf- 
fered as  much  ss  myself,  but  seemed  endowed  with  more 
philosophic  resignation.     On  my  throwing  out  a   few 


ANASTASlUS.  23 

hints  respecting  the  inconvenience  of  our  bedchamber, 
the  patient  personage  assured  me  I  was  fastidious.  Ht: 
had  often  seen  worse  apartments,  and  witliout  the  com- 
fort of  so  much  good  company.  This  excited  my  curi- 
osity; and,  observing  that  it  was  impossible  to  think  of 
sleeping,  I  entreated  him  to  favour  me  with  the  descrip- 
tion of  some  of  those  habitations,  compared  with  which 
our  present  abode  was  such  a  fairy  place. 

"  And  so  you  want,"  he  cried,  "  to  know  my  adven- 
tures 1  Well  I  and  why  not  1  You  are  young,  and  seem 
of  a  promising  disposition.  My  example  and  my  pre- 
cepts cannot  fail  to  benefit  your  inexperience,  and  I  will 
therefore  this  once  do  violence  to  my  natural  modesty, 
in  order  to  gratify  your  wish  for  instructi(jn.  What,  in 
fact,  is  the  use  of  great  achievements,  but  to  tell  them  ? 
Only  let  me  entreat  that  your  feeling  heart  may  not  be 
too  deeply  touched  by  the  distressing  tale  of  my  ill-re- 
warded virtues. 

"  My  early  years,"  continued  my  companion,  "  offer 
nothing  remarkable.  They  were  spent  in  the  inglorious 
occupation  of  cultivating  my  paternal  soil.  I  thought  it 
rather  hard  upon  me  that,  whether  I  sowed  my  field  or 
let  it  lie  fallow,  and  whether  it  was  that  I  reaped  its  pro- 
duce or  the  locusts,  the  waywode*  should  equally  exact 
the  same  enormous  yearly  tithe,  should  look  upon  the 
destruction  of  my  crops  by  hail  and  tempests  as  the 
mere  effects  of  my  own  malice,  and  should  seize  upon 
my  instruments  of  husbandry,  in  order  to  make  me  more 
industrious.  I  thought  it  harder  still,  that  on  hearing 
how  the  conflagration  of  my  hovel  had  consumed  all  my 
haratch  tirketsf  for  ten  years  back,  he  should  demand 
the  whole  sum,  already  paid,  over  again ;  and  I  thought 
it  hard  beyond  all  bearing  when,  after  a  temporary  ab- 
sence, in  order  to  save  my  dearly  taxed  poll,  I  should, 
on  coming  back  with  some  money,  laboriously  serapecl 
together  tor  the  purpose  of  redeeming  my  person  and 
property,  find  all  my  little  patrimony  confiscated  to  the 
profit  of  my  tyrant,  as  a  punishment  for  abandoning  wliat 
I  returned  to.  In  ni}'^  rage,  I  flung  myself  on  the  ground  ; 
with  my  teeth  gnawed  the  earth,  that  I  miglit  at  least 
carry  away  some  morsel  of  my  paternal  inheritance ; 
and  swore  to  make  every  Mohammedan  I  could  lay  hands 
on,  however  innocent,  pay  for  the  murderous  waywode. 

*  WajTvode — Turkish  farmer  of  the  revenue  of  a  district. 
t  Haratch  tickets — vouchers  for  the  payment  of  the  haratch  or  poll-tax,  due 
by  all  rayahs. 


84  ANASTASIUS. 

"  This  oath  brought  me  good  fortune.  I  succeeded  in 
sacrificing  several  victims  to  my  just  resentment;  and 
as  I  chose  by  preference  such  as,  being  in  good  circum- 
stances, had  most  to  lose,  1  always  made  a  point  of  re- 
taining what  1  found  about  them,  lest  other  Mussulmen 
should  profit  by  my  performance. 

"  Steadfast  attention  to  tliis  particular  gave  my  task  a 
double  interest.  The  only  person  I  admitted  to  share 
with  me  was  the  magistraie  of  the  district;  except,  of 
course,  Vv'here  he  himself  happened  to  be  the  person 
stopped.  Justice  was  much  the  gainer  by  this  proceed- 
ing. Instead  of  the  usual  practice  of  hanging  a  single 
individual,  the  cadee*  generally  fined  the  whole  commu- 
nity for  not  being  able  to  produce  the  offender. 

"  I  had  a  distant  cousin  at  Zante, — the  flower  of  the 
fariiily,  and  so  much  admired  by  all  ranks  for  his  bravery, 
that  people  lused  to  contend  for  his  assistance  in  settling 
their  alfiiirs  of  honour.  The  nobleness  of  his  senti- 
ments equalled  his  courage.  He  only  killed,  as  it  were, 
to  oblige  his  friends;  and  so  nice  were  his  feelings, 
where  his  character  was  concerned,  that  on  being  paid 
one  day  beforehand  by  a  certain  nobleman,  to  chas- 
tise anotlier  sprig  of  nobility,  and  on  mature  deliberation 
thinking  the  reward  too  ample  for  the  service,  he  des- 
patched his  man  outright,  and  so  quieted  his  scru.iles,  to 
the  groat  delight  and  surprise  of  his  employer.  But  these 
too  disinterested  sentiments  at  last  obliging  him  to  quit 
Zante,  vt'here  merit  excites  envy,  he  came  and  joined  me 
at  Patras.  From  that  period  we  only  went  in  search  of 
adventures  together,  like  Theseus  and  Pirithous,  Orestes 
and  Pyl,  des,  and  all  the  other  worthies  of  old,  whom  my 
cousin  had  at  his  fingers'  end ;  and  astonishing  was  the 
number  of  monsters  of  which  we  rid  the  world,  not  only 
above  ground  but  under:  for  one  night,  in  a  cellar,  we 
killed  half  a  dozen  Arnaoots,  lying  dead  drunk  on  the 
spoils  of  our  country ;  and  that  without  anybody  the 
next  day  being  the  wiser,  or  thinking  but  that  the  scoun- 
drels had  done  the  deed  themselv  s  in  a  frolic.  Never 
did  we  take  a  fellow's  booty  who:  i  we  did  not  also  rid 
of  his  life.  To  do  otherwise  would  hrve  been  tempting 
Providence,  and  was  against  my  oath.  My  conscience 
being  thus  kept  clear  of  premeditated  sin,  and  my  mind 
regularly  unburthened  by  confession  of  unintentional 

•  Cadee— Turkish  judge. 


ANASTASIUS.  25 

Oiffences,  I  continued  to  prosper,  until  justice,  entirely 
disregarding  gratitude,  chose  maliciously  to  turn  against 
me.  In  disgust,  I  joined  some  Dulcignotes,  who  by  the 
help  of  Algerine  colours  avoided  some  awkwardness  in 
taking  Christian  vessels.  I  myself  had  now  begun  to 
consider  religious  prejudices  as  unworthy  of  a  liberal 
mind,  and  to  view  all  men  as  equal  before  God.  What 
right  had  I  to  indulge  in  partialities  founded  on  my  own 
fallible  judgment  ?  On  this  principle  I  no  longer  made 
a  difference  between  Turks  and  Christians,  and  most  con- 
scientiously treated  both  alike.  Still,  such  is  the  force 
of  habit,  that  I  own  I  always  felt  a  particular  zest  in 
stripping  a  heretic.  To  this  moment,  my  mouth  waters 
at  the  thoughts  of  the  broad-bottomed  Hollander,  full  of 
the  richest  spice  and  gewgaws,  which  I  once  helped  to 
unload.  She  was  going  right  before  the  wind,  and  with 
a  brisk  gale,  just  at  the  rate  of  two  knots  an  hour,  and 
had  not  a  single  picture  of  a  saint,  nay,  not  so  much  as  a 
crucifix  on  board,  or  a  taper  to  burn  to  the  Virgin ;  though 
so  tenacious  were  her  punchy  crew  of  their  pipes,  that, 
when  chucked  overboard,  they  kept  puffing  on  as  long  as 
their  tobacco  or  themselves  lasted.  Their  cargo  set  me 
up  for  a  while,  until  fresh  misfortunes  led  back  the  way 
to  my  old  trade.  The  greatest  piece  of  ill  luck  I  reckon 
to  have  been  my  partnership  with  our  present  captain. 
Had  I  foreseen  the  bungler  he  would  prove,  I  should 
have  carried  my  wits  to  a  better  market.  But  no  mat- 
ter!— the  most  laudable  intentions  are  sometimes  de- 
feated ;  and  a  little  rub  disconcerts  not  Panayoti." 

Highly  edified  with  the  incidents  of  this  worthy  man's 
history,  and  still  more  with  his  candid  and  unassuming 
manner  of  relating  them,  I  almost  regretted  that  the  dawn 
should  so  soon,  through  the  chinks  of  the  wall,  break  in 
upon  his  artless  and  unvarnished  tale,  to  announce  a 
speedy  change  of  scene.  In  fact,  very  soon  after  the 
doors  of  our  saloon  were  thrown  open,  and  our  party 
called  out  to  be  formed  into  marching  order.  The  sepa- 
rate pairs,  connected  together  by  a  thick  rope  into  a 
single  body  of  small  width  but  of  prodigious  length, 
offered  the  beauties  of  distinctness  combined  with  those 
of  blending;  and  all,  set  in  motion  by  the  simple  mecha- 
nism of  a  kick  bestowed  in  the  rear  of  the  foremost  pair, 
immediately  advanced,  guided  by  a  few  spahis  before, 
while  others  followed  behind.  Argos  was  the  place  of 
our  destination,  and  in  less  than  four  hours  our  column 

Vol.  I.— B 


26  ANASTASIUS, 

reached  Hassan's  camp,  scattered  over  the  whole  plain. 
Not  only  all  the  troops  of  the  province  flocked  round  the 
commander's  standard,  Init  several  Greeks  even  had  ob- 
tained permission  to  join  the  Tmks  against  those  very 
Arnaoots  whom,  some  years  before,  the  Turks  had  called 
in  to  save  them  from  the  Greeks. 

I  had  never  seen  an  encampment,  and  the  novel  and 
striking-  sight  absorbed  all  my  faculties  in  astonishment 
and  awe.  I  thought  I  beheld  forces  sufficient  to  subdue 
the  wiiole  world;  and  I  knew  not  which  most  to  admire, 
the  endless  clusters  of  tents,  the  enormous  piles  of  armour, 
and  the  rows  of  threatening  cannon,  or  the  troops  of 
well-mounted  horsemen,  who,  like  dazzling  meteors, 
darted  by  us  in  every  direction,  leaving  clouds  of  dust 
behind  them.  The  very  dirt  with  which  they  bespattered 
us  seemed  to  me  imposing ;  and  every  thing  upon  which 
I  cast  my  eyes  gave  me  a  feeling  of  nothingness,  which 
made  me  shrink  within  myself  like  a  snail  in  its  cell.  I 
envied  not  onlv  those  who  were  destined  to  share  in  all 
the  glory  and  success  of  the  expedition,  but  even  the 
meanest  follower  of  the  camp,  as  a  being  of  a  superior 
order  to  myself;  and  when  suddenly  there  arose  a  loud 
flourish  of  trumpets,  w]ii(-h,  ending  in  a  concert  of  cym- 
bals and  other  warlike  instruiiKnits,  re-echoed  in  long 
peals  from  all  the  surrovuiding  mountains,  the  clang  shook 
every  nerve  in  my  body,  thrilled  me  to  the  very  soul,  and 
infused  in  all  my  veins  a  species  of  martial  ardour  so 
resistless  that  it  made  me  struggle  with  my  fetters,  and 
try  to  tear  them  asunder.  Proud  as  I  was  by  nature,  I 
would  have  knelt  to  whoever  had  offered  to  liberate  my 
limbs,  and  to  put  into  my  hands  a  sword. 

Tlie  turnult  of  my  senses  had  not  yet  subsided,  when, 
leaving  the  camp  on  our  right,  we  were  ushered  into  the 
court  of  a  small  habitation,  in  the  town  of  Argos,  to  un-- 
dergo  an  interrogatory  from  Hassan's  drogueman.  We 
wailed  a  good  while  before  the  gentleman  came.  At  last 
he  arrived. 

How  widely  things  often  differ  in  reality,  that  bear  the 
same  names!  In  the  drogueman  of  the  capitan-pasha  I 
had  figured  to  myrself  a  personage  nearly  of  the  same 
stamp  witli  the  consular  interpreter  at  Ohio,  who  had  the 
honour  of  being  my  father,  f  might  as  well  have  com- 
pared a  wren  to  an  easrle.  The  individual  of  the  tergiu- 
manic  genus  before  whom  I  now  stood  came  with  the 
state  of  a  little  prince,  and  seemed  surrounded  by  a 


ANASTASIU3.  27 

toiiiiiature  court  of  his  own.  When  he  spoke,  his  attend- 
ants  only  answered  in  a  whisper ;  at  his  slightest  com- 
mands they  flew  as  if  the  fate  of  the  empire  were  at  stake; 
and  when  he  smiled  at  a  joke  of  his  own,  they  all  shook 
with  laughter.  As  his  movements  were  abrupt,  and  rather 
eccentric,  it  was  amusing  to  see  them  scamper  after  him, 
trying  to  keep  close  to  his  heels,  and  not  to  be  thrown 
out  of  their  ranks  by  his  vagaries. 

From  what  cause  it  so  happened  I  know  not,  but  the 
moment  this  gi-eat  man  addressed  our  captain,  who  stood 
first  and  foremost  of  our  troop,  his  eye  fell  on  me,  tliough 
one  of  the  very  last  in  the  column ;  and  from  that  time 
forward  he  never  more  changed  the  object  of  his  atten- 
tion. For  the  space  of  half  a  second  or  so, indeed,  he 
might  glance  at  the  intervening  individuals  whom  he  suc- 
cessively interrogated ;  but,  uniformly,  after  addressing 
two  or  three  words  to  them,  his  eyes  again  began  to 
wander,  to  seek  something  farther  off,  and  when  they 
had  found  me,  they  fixed  themselves  with  their  former 
steadfastness  upon  my  humble  person.  My  business  was 
to  have  looked  respectfully  av/ay  from  so  exalted  a  per- 
sonage, or  to  have  modestly  dropped  my  eyes  on  the 
grouiid",  as  if  I  durst  not  encounter  his  sublime  aspect. 
But  this  I  attempted  at  in  vain.  As  if  under  a  fascination, 
I  scarce  could  keep  myself  from  gazing  on  him  with  the 
same  steadiness  with  which  he  perseveringly  eyed  me. 

At  last  came  m^Pturn  to  speak.  Questioned  respecting 
my  birth,  parentage,  country,  cause  of  absence  from 
home,  &c.,  I  told  my  little  talc"  with  tolerable  ease  as  well 
as  veracity,  and  my  candour  particularly  shone  in  my 
strictures  on  the  captain,  who  had  not  perhaps  yet  so 
impartial  and  so  observant  a  biographer.  My  recital 
amused,  and  when  finished,  "  You  little  Greek  rascal," 
exclaimed  the  drogueman,  "you  will  corrupt  these  worthy 
Roman  Catholics,  if  I  leave  you  among  them ;  so  I'll  keep 
you  here,  and  let  them  go  home,  to  swing  on  St.  Mark's 
after  their  own  fashion."  With  this  compliment  my 
eompanions  were  dismissed.  They  slunk  away,  mutter- 
ing some  curses,  which  under  the  drogueraan's  mighty 
wing  I  could  afford  to  disregard. 

Mavroyeni  belonged  to  tJie  most  distinguished  family 
in  the  island  of  Paros.  He  had  from  a  child  felt  a  spirit 
too  expansive  tamely  to  brook  the  restraint  of  his  confined 
birthplace.  The  restlessness  of  his  temper  was  increased 
by  the  predictions  of  a  priest  of  Santirene ;  one  who  fore- 
B2 


28  ANASTASIUS. 

told  SO  much,  that  it  was  impossible  but  something,  now 
and  then,  must  fall  out  as  he  predicted.  Fixing  his  eyes 
on  the  little  Taooshan,*  "  Young  man,"  cried  he,  as  if 
inspired,  "  brilliant  will  be  thy  career ;  but  may  thy  end 
be  happy !"  The  first  part  of  this  twofold  oracle  gave  aa 
additional  stimulus  to  the  youth's  ambition,  the  latter  a 
new  motive  to  his  parents  for  checking  its  sallies :  but, 
like  other  predictions,  the  one  in  question  at  last  worked 
its  own  accomplishment.  When  Hassan  capitan-pasha 
made  the  harbour  of  Drio  in  the  island  of  Paros  the  sum- 
mer station  of  his  squadron  in  its  yearly  cruise  through 
the  Archipelago,  young  Mavroyeni  threw  himself  so  fre- 
quently in  his  way,  so  anxiously  implored  his  accepting 
an  entertainment  from  his  father,  and  so  successfully  paid 
his  court  to  the  commander,  as  to  obtain  the  promise  of 
his  protection  at  Constantinople.  Upon  this  he  imme- 
diately went  fortli,  plunged  lieadlong  into  all  the  intrigues 
of  the  Fanar,t  and  through  his  own  dexterity  and  the 
patronage  of  the  high-admiral,  in  less  than  three  years 
supplanted  Argiropoli,  the  old  and  long-respected  djogue- 
man  of  the  navy ;  and  gave  his  new  situation  an  impor- 
tance it  never  yet  had  known.  Former  droguemen  were 
nothing  more  than  interpreters  and  spokesmen,  even  to 
the  most  imbecile  and  stupid  of  commanders.  To  the 
most  energetic  and  quick-sighted  of  pashas  whom  the 
Turkish  navy  yet  had  obeyed,  Mavroyeni  became  an 
adviser  and  a  friend.*  The  lion,  at  whose  roar  Moslemen 
trembled,  showed  with  the  subtle  Greek  the  meekness  of 
a  lamb ;  and  even  when,  informed  of  his  interpreter's  un- 
lawful transactions,  Hassan  for  a  moment  felt  his  anger 
rise,  and  swore  he  would  cut  off  the  head  that  resisted  his 
commands,  Mavroyeni's  appearance  was  sufficient  to  turn 
Ills  wrath  into  complacency,  and  to  draw  down  .new 
favours  on  that  head  just  devoted  to  destruction.  Every 
outrage  of  Mavroyeni's  on  the  laws  and  on  the  habits  of 
the  'J'urks  oidy  seemed  to  increase  his  influence  with  his 
patron  ;  and  the  Greeks,  still  as  prone  as  of  old  to  ascribe 
each  strange  effect  to  some  supernatural  cause,  ceased 
wondfiriug  at  the  drogueman's  sway,  only  to  wonder  at 
the  drugs  of  which  he  composed  his  filter. 

•  Taooshan— hare  ;  epithet  given  to  the  Greek  islanders. 
t  Fanar— (liatrict  of  Constaniinopic,  where  chiefly  reside  the  Greeks  of  the 
higher  class. 


ANASTASIIJS.  29 


CHAPTER  III. 

Received  among  the  suite  of  this  important  tergiuman,* 
I  was  soon  made  to  exchange  my  miserable  tarred  jacket 
for  the  ample  benishf  of  finest  broadcloth  trailing  on  the 
floor,  the  first  mark  of  my  promotion ;  but  I  could  not  help 
regretting  the  loss  of  my  raven  locks,  indifferently  re- 
placed, in  my  opinion,  by  a  clumsy  calpack|  of  short 
black  lamb's  avooI.  I  swore  I  v.ould  some  day,  cost  what 
it  might,  doff  my  uncouth  headdress  for  one  of  thq^e  smart 
turbans  of  gilt  brocade  or  shawl,  worn  with  such  a  saucy 
air,  over  one  ear,  by  the  pasha's  tshawooshes  ;^  gentle- 
men who  were  seen  eveiy  where  lounging  about  as  if 
they  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  sport  their  handsome  legs, 
their  vests  stiff"  with  gold  lace,  and  their  impudent  bully- 
ing faces. 

I  had  confidently  expected  that  my  first  apprenticeship 
in  my  new  service  would  have  been  to  the  use  of  the 
carbine  and  the  sabre.  Great,  therefore,  was  my  mor- 
tification when,  instead  of  learning  to  shoot  an  enemjs  or 
to  cut  down  a  rebel,  I  had  to  practise  carrying  a  coffee- 
pot, or  presenting  a  pipe ;  and  once,  when  a  young  fellow- 
attendant  displayed  his  wit  in  jokes  on  my  awkwardness, 
I  got  into  such  a  passion  that  I  thrust  my  lighted  pipe 
head  foremost  into  his  grinning  mouth,  aud  made  his  ]3ert 
tongue  smart  for  its  petulance.  An  oldish,  mild-looking 
man,  a  privileged  domestic,  who,  having  served  out  his 
time,  now  acted  as  a  sort  of  pedagogue  to  the  new  comers, 
discerning  my  aspiring  disposition,  took  me  aside : 

"  Listen,  young  man,"  said  he,  "  whether  you  like  it  or 
not.  For  my  own  part,  I  have  always  had  too  much  in- 
dolence, and  too  little  ambition,  not  to  make  it  mj'  study 
throughout  life  rather  to  secure  ease  than  to  labour  for 
distinction.  I  have  therefore  avoided  cherishing  in  my 
patron  any  outrageous  fondness  for  me,  which  would 
have  increased  ray  dependence  while  it  lasted,  and  ex- 

*  Tergiuman — the  Turkish  for  drogueman. 

t  Benish — cloth  vestment  worn  over  the  jubbee  on  occasions  of  ceremony. 

X  Calpack— cap  worn  by  rayahs. 

5  Tshawooshes— tisliers  and  messengers  of  men  in  office. 


30  ANASTASIUS. 

posed  me  to  persecution  whenever  it  subsided; — but  you, 
I  see,  are  of  a  different  mettle :  I  therefore  may  point  out 
to  you  the  surest  and  speediest  way  of  attaining  the  more 
perilous  height,  short  of  which  I  know  you  will  not  rest 
satisfied.  When  you  have  compassed  it,  you  may  re- 
member me,  if  you  please. 

"  Know,  first,  that  all  masters,  even  the  least  loveable, 
like  to  be  loved.  All  wish  to  be  served  from  affection 
rather  than  duty.  It  flatters  tlieir  pride,  and  it  gratifies 
their  selfishness.  They  expect  from  this  personal  motive 
a  greater  devotion  to  their  interest,  and  a  more  unlimited 
obedience  to  their  commands.  A  master  looks  upon 
mere  fidelity  in  his  servant  as  liis  due;  a  thing  scarce 
worth  his  thanks:  but  attachment  lie  considers  as  a  com- 
pliment to  his  merit,  and  if  at  all  generous,  he  will  reward 
it  with  liberality.  Mavroyeni  is  more  open  than  any- 
body to  this  species  of  flattery.  Spare  it  not,  therefore. 
If  he  speak  to  you  kindly,  let  your  face  brighten  up.  If 
he  talk  to  you  of  his  own  affairs,  tliough  it  should  only  be 
to  dispel  the  tedium  of  being  all  day  long  tlie  vehicle  of 
other  men's  thoughts,  listen  witli  the  greatest  eagerness. 
A  single  yawn,  and  you  are  undone  !  Yet  let  not,  how- 
ever, curiosity  appear  your  motive,  but  the  delight  only 
of  being  honoured  with  his  confidence.  The  more  you 
appear  grateful  for  the  least  kindness,  the  oftener  you 
will  receive  imj)ortant  favours.  He  will  feel  a  pleasure 
in  raising  your  astonishment.  His  vanity  knows  no 
bounds.  (Jive  it  scope,  therefore.  When  he  comes  home 
ready  to  burst  with  its  suppressed  ebullitions,  be  their 
ready  and  patient  receptacle.  Or  if  at  first  he  should 
feel  some  hesitation  to  indulge  in  faniiliar  talk  with  one 
so  inferior,  discreetly  lielp  liini  on,  provide  him  with  a 
cue,  hint  what  you  heard  certain  people,  not  knowing  you 
to  be  so  near,  say  of  his  capacity,  his  merit,  and  his  influ- 
ence, lie  wishes  it  to  be  believed  that  he  comph^tely 
rules  the  pasha.  Do  not  flatly  tell  him  lie  does;  but  as- 
sume it  as  a  notorious  fact,  a  thing  which  no  one  dis[)Utes. 
Be  neither  too  candid  in  your  remarks,  nor  tcjo  fulsome  in 
your  flattery.  If  too  zealous  a  worship  of  truth  would 
savour  of  disrespect  to  your  master,  too  palpalile  devia- 
tions from  fact  might  appear  a  satire  on  his  understanding. 
Should  some  disappointment  evidently  ruffle  his  temper, 
appear  not  to  conceiv(;  the  possibility  of  his  vanity  having 
received  a  mortification.  Preserve  the  exact  medium  be- 
tween too  cold  a  respect,  and  too  presumptuous  a  forward- 


ANASTASIUS.  31 

ness.  However  much  Mavroyeni  may  caress  you  in 
private,  never  seem  quite  at  ease  with  him  in  public.  A 
master  still  likes  to  remain  master,  or  at  least  to  appear 
/so  to  others.  Should  you  get  into  some  scrape,  wait  not 
to  confess  your  imprudence,  until  concealment  becomes 
impossible ;  nor  try  to  excuse  the  offence.  Rather  than 
that  you  should  by  so  doing  appear  to  make  light  of 
your  guilt,  exaggerate  your  self-upbraidings,  and  throw 
yourself  entirely  upon  your  master's  mercy.  On  all 
occasions  take  care  how  you  appear  cleverer  than  your 
lord,  even  in  the  splitting  of  a  pen.  Or  if  you  cannot 
avoid  excelling  him  in  some  trifle,  give  liis  own  tuition 
all  the  credit  of  your  proliciency.  Many  things  he  will 
dislike,  only  because  they  come  not  from  himself.  Vin- 
dicate not  Vour  iimocence  when  unjustly  rebuked.  It 
would  be  aVellection  upon  your  master,  and  exasperate 
him  the  more.  Submit  for  the  moment ;  and  trust  that, 
though  he  never  will  expressly  acknowledge  his  error,  he 
will  in  due  time  pay  you  for  your  forbearance." 

To  this  friendly  but  rather  long  admonition,  I  made  the 
customary  return  for  good  advice.  I  listened,  while 
pinned  down,  with  an  air  of  impatience,  and  ran  away, 
as  soon  as  I  was  able.  But  though  I  thanked  not  the 
author,  I  took  care  to  profit  by  the  remarks. 

Mavroyeni's  situation  subjected  him  to  a  species  of 
persecution  which  almost  balanced  the  pleasure  of  be- 
holding the  proudest  agas  of  the  country  daily  cringe  ?.t 
his  levee  as  lowly  as  at  that  of  the  pasha  himself.  It 
was  the  annoyance  of  being  visited  by  all  his  own  rela- 
tions and  kindred,  from  every  island  of  the  Archipelago, 
far  or  near,  large  or  small.  He  had  not,  in  the  remotest 
corner  of  the  Levant,  a  cousin  in  the  fiftieth  degree, 
known  or  unknown,  whom  the  fame  of  his  favour  drew 
not  out  of  his  den  to  come  to  Argos,  for  the  purpose  of 
sharing,  equipped  after  one  fashion  or  another,  in  the 
good  things  which  they  imagined  the  drogueman  had 
nothing  to  do  but  to  give  for  the  asking;  and  relation- 
Bhips  before  dormant,  or  wholly  obliterated,  were  now 
brought  to  light  and  supported  by  oral  and  written  proof, 
so  as  sometimes  absolutelj''  to  confound  my  master.— 
Nor  could  these  anxious  kinsfolks  and  friends  be  made 
to  comprehend  why  the  particular  time  when  Mavroyeni 
went  forth  into  public,  or  was  surrounded  by  his  whole 
court,  should  not  be  the  very  best  for  bustling  up  to  their 
cousin,  and  roaring  out  their  claims,  or  reminding  him 


32  ANASTASIUS. 

of  their  former  intimacies.  All  day  long  they  beset  the 
drogueman's  door  when  he  was  at  home,  or  lay  in  am- 
bush for  him  when  he  went  out  •,  and  so  great  became  at 
last  the  persecution,  that  at  every  new  disembarking  of 
passengers  at  Nauplia,  he  used  to  be  seized  with  a  fit  of 
the  ague. 

There  is  a  danger  in  doing  things  too  well.  What  was 
at  first  volunteered  as  an  extraordinary  feat  is  soon 
assigned  as  an  everyday  task.  I  once  happened  to  dis- 
miss one  of  these  troublesome  visiters  from  my  master's 
door  too  dexterously  ;  and  from  that  time  it  became  my 
regular  office.  The  appointment,  it  is  true,  could  not 
have  been  in  better  hands.  Without  troubling  the 
drogueman  for  particular  instructions,  or  annoying  him 
with  awkward  messages,  painful  to  the  delicacy  of  a 
man  who  would  rather  have  been  thought  only  allied 
to  Jove,  whenever  a  new  face  presented  itself  at  the 
door,  I  knew  at  once  by  its  cut  and  dimensions  whether 
it  could  conveniently  be  suffered  to  pass  the  threshold, 
or  not;  and  when  1  found  it  either  too  long  or  too  wide, 
or  too  red  or  too  shuiuig,  or  otherwise  inadmissible  or 
questionable,  I  resolutely  defended  the  pass  committed 
to  my  care,  was  as  formidably  repulsive  as  Cerberus 
Iiimself,  and  minded  not  even  a  little  scuffle  in  the  cause : 
sure  of  never  being  taxed  by  my  master  for  disrespect 
to  his  l)lood.  Hence  it  liappened  that  once  or  twice,  on 
the  drogueman's  expressing  a  fear  that  certain  of  these 
visiters  might  call,  I  had  the  pleasure  to  inform  him  that 
they  had  called,  and  would  call  no  more ;  after  which, 
wlicnever  a  stranger  was  announced,  the  answer,  "  Let 
Anastasius  go  to  him,"  wascjuite  sufficient  to  explain  the 
reception  he  was  to  meet  with,  and  the  way  in  which 
his  importunities  were  to  be  treated. 

By  tluis  anticipating  my  master's  sentiments,  I  rose  to 
R>ich  a  degree  of  favour,  that  often,  after  having  in  pub- 
lic caused  Turks  of  the  highest  rank  to  stare  at  his 
haughtiness,  he  would  in  private  put  his  humble  cafed- 
gee*  in  no  f(!ar  but  from  his  excess  of  familiarity ;  for 
frequently  it  left  me  almost  unable  to  bear  in  mind  the 
old  preceptor's  (;aution,  and  to  rclVain  from  overstepping 
my  station.  One  evening,  after  other  conversation, 
"  Anastasius,"  said  the  drogueman,  "  I  told  the  pasha 

*  Cafedgee— the  servant  who  in  Greek  and  Turkish  houses  hands  round 
the  coffee. 


ANASTASIUS.  33 

to-day  what  a  graceless  stripling  I  had  picked  up.    He 
will  see  you  to-morrow." 

A  person  so  terrible  as  this  pasha,  and  who  so  filled 
the  world  with  tlie  mere  sound  of  his  name,  must,  I 
thought,  equal  Homer's  heroes  in  size.  I  estimated  his 
stature  at  tlie  least  at  eight  feet ;  and  accordingly,  when 
ushered  into  his  presence,  kept  looking  up  at  the  ceiling, 
until  I  nearly  fell  over  a  little  man  squatted  on  the  floor, 
whom  1  only,  by  the  commotion  my  heedlessness  excited, 
recognised  as  the  formidable  Hassan.  I  know  not  whe- 
ther the  pasha  fell  nettled  at  the  abruptness  of  my 
approach,  or  had  been  discomposed  before ;  but  when, 
ready  to  sink  into  the  ground  with  dismay  at  my  blunder, 
I  stepped  back  to  repair  it  and  kiss  the  hem  of  his  gar 
raent ;  he  no  more  heeded  me  than  the  dust  of  his  feet, 
which  I  brought  to  my  forehead.  Mavroyeni  soon  per- 
ceived that  the  moment  was  inauspicious,  and  made  me  a 
sign  to  withdraw.     I  immediately  slunk  away. 

There  is  a  sometliing  in  my  nature  that  revolts  at  every 
act  of  humiliation  performed  towards  a  fellow-creature. 
Nothing  but  the  extreme  kindness  of  Mavroyeni  could 
reconcile  me  to  my  servile  situation;  and  his  indulgence 
had  made  me  expect  equal  caresses  from  Hassan  him- 
self; "  I  only  stoop,"  thought  I,  when  appearing  before 
him,  "  to  rise  the  higher."  But  when  I  found  myself  left 
in  the  dust  in  which  I  had  been  cringing,  without  gaining 
any  thing  by  my  submission  but  a  contemptuous  look, 
how  deeply  in  my  heart  sunk  the  mortification !  Scarce 
could  I  contain  myself  while  hurrying  out  of  the  room. 
On  the  very  tlireshold  I  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears. 

Fresh  constraint,  however,  soon  again  became  neces- 
sary. My  fellow-attendants,  to  whom  I  had  been  boast- 
ing of  my  summons,  were  all  v/aiting  in  a  row,  to  know 
the  result  of  my  visit.  Lest  its  luckless  and  ill  termina- 
tion should  make  them  too  happy,  I  had  to  conveit  my 
sobs  into  smiles,  at  the  inexpressible  graciousness  of  my 
reception. 

The  principal  tribe  of  the  rebellious  Arnaoots,  the 
Beckiarees,  established  to  the  amount  of  about  ten  thou- 
sand in  the  very  capital  of  the  IMorea,  kept  its  governor, 
Mehemet  Pasha,  as  some  supposed,  a  willing  prisoner. 
Hassan,  ere  he  engaged  in  actual  hostilities,  once  more 
offered  them,  on  condition  of  immediately  quitting  the 
country,  an  unqualified  pardon ;  but  tlie  hardened  ban- 
ditti, whether  confiding  in  their  numbers  or  in  other  less 
B3 


34  AN'ASTASIUS. 

apparent  means  of  averting  the  blow,  rejected  all  com- 
promise, intrenched  themselves  under  the  walls  of  the 
cit}^  and  bade  defiance  to  the  pasha's  forces. 

Probably  they  expected  to  awe  him  by  this  show  of 
resolution.  They  were  deceived.  On  the  tenth  of  June, 
about  noon,  Hassan  set  out  with  four  thousand  picked 
men  for  Tripolizza,  and  continued  on  the  march  the  whole 
night.  Mavroyeni  followed  the  pasha,  and  I  followed 
!\lavroyeni.  In  my  capacity  of  Greek,  and  still  more  of 
cafedgee,  I  had  not  the  least  hope  of  personally  con- 
tending with  the  foe,  and  all  my  solace  M'as  the  chance  of 
a  sly  thrust  at  some  runaway.  But  my  master,  desirous 
to  let  me  have  my  share  of  all  the  good  things  that  offered,, 
after  whispering  something  in  the  pasha's  ear,  suddenly 
turned  round  to  me :  "  Anastasius,"  he  cried,  "  I  have 
obtained  his  highness's  permission  for  you  to  shoulder  a 
musket,  and  to  join  in  the  fight  like  an  Osmanlee."* 

The  favour,  no  doubt,  was  inestimable,  but  its  sudden- 
ness somewhat  confounded  me.  I  however  felt  that  I 
must  seem  delighted,  and  though  with  something  of  a 
flutter  about  my  lieart,  endeavoured  to  look  all  joy  in  the 
face.  In  order  to  confirm  my  assurance  of  unutterable 
satisfaction,  I  kept  singing  all  the  way  ;  though  now  and 
then,  perhaps,  a  little  out  of  tune.  Eut  let  it  be  recol- 
lected what  I  was — a  Greek,  in  whose  hands  until  that 
moment  a  musket  had  been  deemed,  among  Moslemen,  a 
positive  sacrilege,  and  who  had  only  learned  by  stealth 
to  take  aim  at  a  sparrow. 

I  shall,  therefore,  not  attempt  to  deny,  that  when  the 
early  dawn  showed  in  front  of  our  column,  between  our- 
selves and  Tripolizza,  at  the  distance  of  only  a  few  hun- 
dred yards,  the  whole  Albanese  encampment,  my  stout 
heart  began  to  beat ;  and  that  when  the  next  moment  I 
heard  Hassan  give  orders  for  the  charge,  breath  seemed 
for  a  moment  to  forsake  me.  .Shame,  however,  supplied 
the  place  of  braver}\  '^J'he  danger  I  could  not  avoid,  I 
determined  not  to  tiiink  of;  and  following  the  example  of 
the  more  experienced  warriors  around  me,  I  swallowed 
in  a  hurried  maimer  several  copious  draughts  of  a  certain 
nameless  liquor,  whicli  on  particular  occasions  tlie  high 
admiral  wisely  allowed  himself  to  distribute  among  his 
followers ;  whereupon,  whether  it  be  that  tlie  inspiring 

*  Osmanlee— follower  ol  Osmaa  or  Othman,  the  founder  of  the  Turkish  em- 
pire ;  an  epithet  v.hicli  sounds  as  agreeable  to  its  bearers  as  the  name  of 
Turk  U  oflfensiTe  to  them. 


ANASTASIUS.  35 

potation  did  its  duty,  or  that  courage  is  infectious  like 
cowardice,  my  heart,  the  very  moment  before  almost 
sunk  to  my  heels,  rebounded  with  such  energy,  that  in 
my  outrageous  bursts  of  bravery,  I  could  scarce  refrain 
from  breaking  from  the  ranks,  and  engaging  some  hero 
of  the  adverse  party  in  single  combat,  even  before  tlie 
line  was  formed ;  and  when  the  trumpet  sounded  the 
charge,  when  the  onset  began,  and  the  whole  body  of 
cavalry  at  once  rushed  forward,  causing  the  earth  to  shake 
under  the  horses'  hoofs,  such  grew  my  delirium,  that 
I  scarce  saw,  heard,  or  felt,  much  less  had  senses  to 
think. 

Mavroyeni  had  taken  care  to  confide  his  cafedgee,  ex- 
cellently mounted,  to  a  trusty  spahee,*  whose  side  he 
enjoined  me  not  to  quit.  But  at  that  moment,  not  heaven 
itself  could  have  prevented  my  giving  the  reins  to  my 
warlike  spirit.  The  cloud  of  smoke  which  arose  soon 
baffling  the  vigilance  of  my  guardian,  I  gave  liim  the 
slip,  and  spurring  my  steed  witli  all  my  might,  at  once 
plunged  into  the  thickest  of  the  fray.  There,  finding  t!ie 
loading  of  my  pistols  too  tedious  a  process,  I  began  hack- 
ing and  hewing  with  myyatagan;t  consoling  myself  for 
any  mistake  I  might  make  in  the  objects  of  my  ire,  with 
the  thought  that  my  blows  never  could  fall  amiss,  where 
all  alike  were  enemies  to  Christianity  and  oppressors  of 
the  Greeks.  If,  upon  this  principle,  I  hit  one  or  two  of 
our  own  men,  too  much  engaged  to  heed  whence  came 
the  compliment,  I  made  amends  by  cutting  down  as  grim 
an  Arnaoot  as  ever  wore  red  whiskers,  in  the  very  act  of 
measuring  one  of  our  spahees  for  a  back-handed  blow  ; 
and  by  this  feat,  so  happily  timed,  and  more  happily  ob- 
served, gained  prodigious  credit.  It  elated  me  to  such  a 
degree,  that  thinking  myself  quite  invulnerable,  I  was  next 
going  to  rush  headlong  amid  the  only  little  knot  of  Lal- 
leotes  who  still  were  maintaining  their  ground,  when  my 
guardian,  again  catching  a  glimpse  of  my  person,  stopped 
my  mad  career,  grasped  me  by  the  arm,  and,  spite  of  my 
despair  at  not  seeing  the  end  of  an  affair  in  which  1  had 
taken  such  an  active  part,  began  dragging  me  away.  'I'he 
rout  of  the  Arnaoots,  however,  at  that  moment  becoming 
complete,  he  listened  to  the  entreaties  of  those  wlio  had 
witnessed  my  behaviour,  and  again  let  me  go.     I  darted 

*  Spahee — Turkish  holder  of  a  milUary  fief,  in  virtue  of  which  he  is  obligccj 
to  join  the  army  mounted  at  his  own  expense. 
f  Yatogan— Turkish  saUre,  worn  in  the  belt  oi  sasU. 


36  ANASTASIU9. 

forward  like  an  arrow  from  the  bow,  and  gave  chase  to 
the  now  dispersing  foe. 

Foremost  in  the  attack,  I  soon  was  foremost  in  the 
pursuit.  Among  the  Albanians  flying  before  us  like 
chaff  before  the  wind,  two  particularly  caught  my  eye ; 
who,  somewliat  apart  from  the  rest,  and  brushing  by  a 
small  patch  of  furzes,  thought  them  a  convenient  cover  in 
which  to  shnk  away.  Steadfastly,  however,  I  kept 
watching  their  progress,  and,  enabled  to  trace  their  route 
by  the  motion  of  the  bushes,  I  left  the  rest  of  the  troop 
to  follow  this  promising  scent.  Fortunately,  my  fugi- 
tives, in  their  panic,  instead  of  turning  short  upon  me, 
when  separated  from  my  friends  they  might  have  cut  me 
to  pieces,  only  pushed  forward,  until  the  hindmost,  get- 
ting entangled  among  the  briais,  I  lodged  tlie  contents 
of  my  carbine  in  his  side,  and  made  him  bite  the  dust; 
while  the  other  only  ran  the  faster  for  his  comrade's 
groans. 

My  great  ambition  had  been  to  take  a  prisoner,  to  pos- 
sess a  slave.  I  therefore  left  the  disabled  man  as  secure, 
to  his  own  meditations,  and  witli  my  biggest  voice  called 
to  the  other  to  surrender.  Luckily,  he  did  not  even  look 
round  at  the  stripling  who  addressed  him ;  but  presently 
leaping  down  a  little  eminence,  disappeared  in  a  thicket, 
where  I  thought  it  prudent  to  give  up  the  hazardous  chase. 

1  now  returned  to  the  fellow  whom  1  had  left  writhing 
on  the  ground,  apparently  at  the  last  gasp.  Thinking,  as 
I  approached,  lliat  I  still  perceived  something  in  him  like 
a  latent  spark  of  life,  which  might  only  wait  to  spend 
itself  in  a  hist  home-thrust,  I  swiitly  sprung  forward,  and, 
for  fear  of  foul  play,  jjluiiged  my  dagger  to  tlie  hilt  in  his 
heart  ere  I  ventured  to  take  any  oilier  liberties  with  his 
person.  This  done,  I  deliberately  ])roceeded  to  the  work 
of  spoliation.  With  a  hand  all  trembling  with  joy,  I  first 
took  the  silver-mounted  pistols,  and  glittering  poniard, 
and  costly  yatagan ;  next  collected  the  massy  knobs  of 
the  jacket,  and  clasps  of  the  buskins,  and  still  more  valu- 
able sequins  lying  perdue  in  the  folds  of  the  sash  ;  and 
lastly,  feeling  my  appetite  for  plunder  increase  in  propor- 
tion as  it  was  gratified,  thought  it  such  a  pity  to  leave 
any  part  of  so  showy  an  attire  a  prey  to  corruption,  that 
I  undressed  the  dead  man  comjjletely. 

When,  liowever,  the  business  which  engaged  all  my 
attention  was  entirely  achieved,  and  when  that  human 
body,  of  which,  in  the  eagerness  for  its  spoil,  I  had  thus 


ANASTASItrS.  37 

far  noticed  the  separate  limbs  only  one  by  one  as  I  stripped 
them,  all  at  once  in  its  fuU  dimensions  struck  my  sight, 
as  it  lay  naked  before  me ;  when  I  contemplated  that  fine 
athletic  frame,  but  a  moment  before  full  of  life  and  mo- 
tion unto  its  utmost  extremities,  now  rendered  an  insen- 
sible corpse,  and  tliat  by  the  random  shot  of  a  stripling 
whom  in  close  combat  its  little  finger  might  have  crushed, 
1  could  not  help  feeling  mixed  with  my  exultation  a  sort 
of  shame,  as  if  I  blushed  for  having  taken  a  cowardly 
advantage  of  a  superior  being;  and  in  order  to  make  a 
kind  of  atonement  to  the  shade  of  an  Epirote — of  a  kins- 
man— I  exclaimed,  with  outstretched  hands,  "  Cursed  be 
the  paltiy  dust  wliich  turns  the  warrior's  arm  into  a  mere 
engine,  and  striking  from  afar  an  invisible  blow,  carries 
death,  no  one  knows  whence,  to  no  one  knows  whom ; 
levels  the  strong  with  the  weak,  the  brave  with  the  das- 
tardly, and,  enabling  the  feeblest  hand  to  wield  its  fatal 
liglitning,  makes  the  conqueror  slay  without  anger,  and 
the  conquered  die  without  glory !" 

On  the  very  point  of  departing  after  this  sort  of  expia- 
tory ejaculation,  with  my  heavy  trophy,  the  thought 
struck  me  that  I  might  incur  a  suspicion  of  sporting 
plumes  not  my  own,  unless  I  brought  my  vouchers.  In 
that  view,  I  began  detaching  from  his  scull  the  Aniaoot's 
ears  as  pledges  for  the  remainder  of  the  head,  when  at 
leisure  to  fetch  it ;  but  considering  how  many  gleaners 
stalked  the  harvest-field,  and  that  if  I  lost  my  own  head 
I  should  get  no  otlier,  I  determined  to  take  at  once  all  I 
meant  to  keep.  The  work  was  a  tough  one,  and  the  ope- 
ration awkwardly  performed,  but  1  succeeded  at  last ; 
and  now,  in  an  ecstasy  of  dehght,  though  almost  afraid 
to  look  at  my  bundle,  I  returned  to  our  party,  for  ever 
cured,  by  an  almost  instantaneous  transition  to  temerity, 
of  every  sentiment  of  ftar.  Indeed,  such  remained  for 
some  time  the  ferment  of  my  spirits,  that  while  I  carried 
my  load  on  one  arm,  I  ko])t  brandishing  my  sword  with 
the  other,  still  eager  to  lay  about  me,  and  to  cut  down 
whomsoever  I  met. 

My  master,  already  informed  of  my  prowess,  and  on 
the  lookout  for  my  return,  on  seeing  me  arrive  thus 
fierce  and  turbulent,  immediately  cried  out,  "  Bravo, 
Anastasius;  at  your  first  outset  you  are  become  a  com- 
plete hero !  But,"'  added  he,  laughing,  "  since  the  fight  is 
over,  and  the  enemy  routed,  suppose  you  put  up  your 
sword  and  wash  your  face." 

4C8055 


38  AXASTASIUS. 

The  advice  was  seasonable.  I  had  in  the  heat  of  the 
engagement  received,  I  know  not  how,  a  cut  across  the 
jaw,  of  which  the  scar  remains  to  this  day,  and  shows  a 
shining  white  ridge  across  my  strong  bhick  beard. 

The  head,*  which  in  imitation  of  my  companions  I  laid 
before  the  pasha,  he  onl}'^  treated  as  a  football — a  usage 
which  made  me  feel  vexed  for  its  dignity  and  my  own ; 
but  when  the  whole  harvest  was  got  in,  he  ordered  the 
produce  to  be  built  into  the  base  of  a  handsome  pyramid. 
The  remaining  Arnaoots  of  the  peninsula,  cut  off  at  the 
Dervens,  afterward  supplied  its  top,  and  thus  afforded 
the  inhabitants  of  Tripolizza  a  most  agreeable  vista,  which 
they  enjoy  to  this  day.  One  of  our  men,  indeed,  attempted 
to  keep  back  from  the  common  store  a  scull  of  his  own 
collecting,  meaning  to  turn  it  into  a  drinking-cup  for  pri- 
vate use ;  but  the  pasha  severely  censured  an  idea  "  so 
disgraceful,"  he  observed,  "  to  a  civilized  nation  like  the 
Turks,"  and  was  near  making  its  author,  in  punishment 
of  his  offence,  contribute  to  the  building  materials  from 
his  own  stock.  As  for  myself,  when  I  came  to  offer  my 
mite,  I  found  that  same  Hassan,  before  so  supercilious, 
all  condescension.  Bravery  was  with  him  the  first  of 
virtues,  some  said  the  only  one.  Putting  his  hand  into 
his  pocket,  he  pulled  out  and  gave  me  a  handful  of  sequins, 
adding,  "  You  are  a  brave  lad ;  and  if  you  will  but  become 
a  true  believer,  you  may  rely  upon  me  for  promotion." 

At  this  flattering  offer  my  heart  rose  to  my  lips.  At 
once  1  would  have  answered,  "Moslemin,  or  heathen,  or 
whatever  your  highness  pleases !"  but  a  look  from  my 
master  stopped  my  complying  speech.  I  read  in  it  a  posi- 
tive prohibition,  and  durst  nor  disobey.  Prostrating  my- 
self on  the  ground,  I  begged  the  pasha  would  command 
his  servant  any  thing  but  to  renounce  his  precious  faith. 
This  behaviour  had  the  good  luck  not  to  displease  the 
vizier,  and  much  to  gratify  the  interpreter.  It  entirely 
gained  me  the  heart  of  a  nephew  of  Mavroyeni,  hi's 
uncle's  agent,  named  Stephan ;  a  man  who  was  said  to 
keep  his  accounts  between  this  world  and  the  next  much 
more  even  than  his  older  relation.  Indeed,  so  little  had 
the  drogueman  the  reputation  of  being  tenacious  on  the 
score  of  religion,  that  I  could  not  refrain  from  asking  liim, 
"  why  he  should  thus  have  stood  in  the  way  of  his  ser- 
vant's fortune  ?" 

*  The  head,  <kc. — It  is  customary  among  the  Turks,  after  a  battle,  to  give  a 
reward  for  every  head  ol  an  enemy  that  is  brought  to  ftie  coumiander. 


ANASTASIUS.  39 

"You  fool," Avas his  answer,  " I  only  stood  in  the  way 
of  your  ruin.  Had  you  accepted  the  high  admiral's  pro- 
posal, you  would  immediately  have  received  some  inferior 
appointment,  and  in  that  you  would  have  been  left  to 
waste  the  remainder  of  your  life.  Your  first  promotion 
would  have  been  your  last.  Despised  by  the  Turks,  and 
shunned  by  the  Greeks,  you  would  have  found  support 
nowhere,  and  must  henceforth  have  lived  not  only  de- 
graded, but,  what  is  worse,  forgotten.  Has  it  never  struck 
you,"  added  he  in  a  whisper,  as  if  afraid  of  being  over- 
heard, "  that  if  much  were  to  be  gained  by  a  Christian 
turning  Moslemin,  there  are  others  besides  yourself  suffi- 
ciently reasonable  not  to  stick  at  the  difference  between 
Kyrie-eleison,  and  Allah,  lllali,  Allah  ?"* 

This  observation  set  all  reply  at  defiance.  I  laid  by  my 
sword,  and  resumed  my  coffee-tray. 

The  interior  of  the  IMorea  being  liberated  from  the  Alba- 
nians, Hassan  determined  to  spend  the  remainder  of  the 
season  in  clearing  its  seas  of  the  Maynotes.  A  strong 
detachment  was  sent  with  instructions  to  force  the  passes 
of  mount  Taygetus,  the  abode  of  those  miscreants;  and 
our  encampment  was  in  the  mean  time  removed  from  the 
plain  of  Argos  to  that  of  Nauplia.  Precisely  the  small 
slip  of  this  otherwise  deliglitful  valley  which  is  closest  to 
the  city,  and  extends  under  the  tremendous  rock  of  the 
Palamida,  had  by  the  seawater  constantly  oozing  in  been 
rendered  a  swamp,  vying  for  noxious  exhalations  with 
the  opposite  morass  of  Lcrna.  Hassan,  while  Availing 
the  issue  of  the  expedition  to  ?.Ia3-no,  resolved,  without 
knowing  much  of  the  garden  of  the  Hesperides,  to  make 
tliis  pestilential  nook  its  fac-simile ;  and  by  way  of  re- 
storing to  their  pristine  innocence  and  purity  the  some- 
what deteriorated  minds  of  his  Arnaoot  prisoners,  had 
them  conveyed  on  shore  every  morning,  chained  two  and 
two,  to  forward  this  rural  design.  Hands  that  never  yet 
had  wielded  any  thing  but  weapons  of  war  and  destruc- 
tion, were  now  reluctantly  seen  to  grasp  instruments  of 
peace  and  husbandrjs  and  to  exchange  the  sword  and  the 
carbine  for  the  rake  and  the  spade ;  and  men  only  accus- 
tomed to  cut  and  clip  human  limbs  gnashed  their  teeth 
with  rage  at  being  compelled  to  prune  orange-trees  and 
to  tie  up  carnations. 

Like  other  distinguished  personages,  Hassan  had  his 

*  The  difference  between  Kyrie-eleison  and  Allah,  Illah,  Allah. — Greek  ar.d 
SlQUammedari  forma  of  prayer,  or  invocation  to  lUe  Supreme  Being. 


40  ANASTASIXJS. 

enemies  in  the  capital.  They  represented  his  attempt  on 
the  impregnable  fastnesses  of  Mayno  as  a  mad  scheme ; 
they  ceased  not  to  inveigh  against  his  extortions :  but  the 
crime  they  dwelt  upon  with  peculiar  eloquence  and  pa- 
thos was,  his  atrocity  in  employing  Mohammedan  cap- 
tives to  lay  out  his  shrubberies ;  and  one  morning  that 
Hassan,  in  tlie  midst  of  his  works,  was  inhaling  in  copious 
streams  the  incense  of  liis  courtiers  vying  in  compliments 
on  his  taste,  came  a  fulminating  hattisheriff  from  the 
Porte,  to  enjoin  the  immediate  liberation  of  all  his  pris- 
oners, and  the  return  of  his  squadron  to  Constanti- 
nople. 

Vain  would  be  the  attempt  to  paint  the  pasha's  rage. 
Striking  his  forehead  witli  the  imperial  mandate,  he  swore 
he  would  obey  its  commands — v/ould  deliver  his  prisoners 
from  their  bondage — but  only  in  death !  and  ordered  them 
to  be  marshalled  for  immediate  execution.  The  signal 
was  given,  and  at  each  waving  of  his  hand  fell  a  head. 
Every  beholder  looked  agliast,  but  none  durst  breathe 
even  a  syllabic  of  intercession  for  the  victims.  Fifteen 
heads  already  lay  gasping  amid  the  parterres  their  wearers 
liad  planted,  and  seemed  only  a  prelude  to  the  fall  of  as 
many  hundreds;  when  Mavroyeni  at  last  stepped  forward, 
and  throwing  himself  at  his  master's  feet,  begged  he 
would  have  mercy,  not  on  the  culprits,  who  deserved 
tlu'ir  fate,  but  on  his  own  innocent  hlies  and  jasmines, 
which  had  done  nothing  to  deserve  being  deluged  in 
blood,  instead  of  moistened  only  by  the  dews  from 
heaven. 

,'  Perhaps  the  pasha  himself  had  already  begim  to  reflect, 
not  on  the  cruelty  of  liis  conduct,  but  on  its  consequences. 
Perhaps  he  was  not  sorry  for  an  excuse  to  desist  from 
liis  rash  vow.  His  jocularity  between  each  new  act  of 
the  disgusting  spectacle  might  only  in  reality  be  intended 
to  slacken  the  progress  of  the  slaughter.  The  flowers 
were  pitied,  the  massacre  stopped,  the  garden  abandoned, 
and  the  not-yet-pollarded  Arnaoots  conveyed  to  the  passes 
out  of  tlie  Morea,  there  to  be  turned  loose  upon  the  re- 
mainder of  the  Turkish  empire. 

IJy  the  sacrifice  of  a  few  of  the  purses  which  he  had 
collected,  Hassan  still  obtained  leave  only  to  resign  the 
command  of  tlie  Morea  to  Hadgee  Ibrahim,  his  own  ke- 
haya  :*  a  man  who,  in  turns,  pilgrim  at  Mecca,  chief  of 

*  Kehaya — official  agent  of  a  public  personage  in  Turkey. 


ANASTASIUS.  4 1 

banditti  in  Roumili,*  slave  merchant  on  the  Black  Sea, 
and  soldier  at  the  Dardanelles,  Avas  by  no  means  the 
pasha's  unapt  representative ;  but  who  nevertheless  was 
only  allowed  to  succeed  him  with  the  subordinate  rank 
of  moohassil,t — the  exhausted  state  of  the  peninsula 
disabling  it  from  supporting,  in  a  governor,  the  burthen- 
some  weight  of  the  three  tails. 

The  news  of  the  entire  failure  of  the  Maynote  expedi- 
tion became  the  signal  for  our  departure.  In  my  impa- 
tience to  behold-the  capital,  I  had  been  counting  the  days 
and  hours  till  we  should  sail,  and  had  been  frightened  by 
many  a  report  of  our  wintering  at  Nauplia.  Inexpressible, 
therefore,  was  my  joy,  Avhen,  on  the  fifteenth  of  Novem- 
ber, 1779, 1  actually  saw  the  anchors  heaving,  and  the  sails 
unfurled. 

Behold  me  now  at  sea  a  second  time,  not  like  the  first, 
on  board  a  paltry  trading  vessel,  only  surrounded  by 
tarred  sailors,  and  myself  toiling  like  a  galley-slave,  but 
in  a  superb  three-decker,  a  positive  moving  city  on  the 
waves ;  basking  in  the  sunshine  of  a  vizier  of  the  first 
class ;  viewing,  whichever  way  I  turned  my  eyes,  glitter- 
ing officers  and  guards ;  and  having  nothing  myself  to 
do  but  to  wonder  at  all  I  saw.  This  I  did  abundantly.  Not 
a  hole  or  corner  of  the  vessel  was  left  unexplored ;  and, 
though  exceedingly  wroth  on  board  the  Venetian  at  being 
obliged  to  bear  a  part  in  working  the  ship,  which  I  then 
thought  an  intolerable  drudgeiy,  I  here,  on  the  contrary, 
from  bemg  very  much  discouraged  by  the  sailors  in  my 
attempts  to  assist  them,  foimd  no  pleasure  so  great ;  and 
was  constantly  lending  a  hand  in  setting  the  sails,  bra- 
cing the  yards,  and  imitating,  like  a  monkey,  all  I  saw 
others  do.  Frequently,  when  my  master  sent  for  me  to 
my  birth  below,  1  was  up  in  the  main-top ;  and  I  seldom 
came  down  from  this  favourite  station,  except  to  listen, 
open  mouthed,  on  the  carnage  of  a  gun,  to  the  glowing 
descriptions  of  the  wonders  and  delights  of  the  capital — 
the  city  by  pre-eminence — which  some  one  or  other  of 
my  companions  was  constantly  praising.  It  seemed  to 
me,  though  the  wind  continued  unabatingly  fair,  that  we 
never  were  to  reach  this  earthly  paradise. 

*  Roumili— The  Greeks  of  the  lower  empire  affected  to  call  themselves  Ro- 
mans,their  language  tlie  Romaic,  and  their  country  Romania,  whichtbe  Turks 
have  changed  into  Roumili. 

tMoohassil— a  governor  of  a  province,  inferior  in  rank  and  power  to  a 
pasha. 


42  ANASTASIUS. 

On  one  occasion,  indeed,  the  current  of  my  thoughts, 
thus  far  uninterruptedly  directed  towards  Stambool,*  ex- 
perienced a  sudden  stop,  a  total  reflux.  The  intellectual 
tide,  till  then  only  flowing  in  one  direction,  at  once  ebbed, 
and  set  the  contrary  way.  It  was  when  we  came  in 
sight  of  my  native  land,  of  my  beloved  Chio.  While 
rapidly  sailing  before  the  wind  along  its  verdant  shores, 
a  pang  shot  to  my  heart — an  indescribable  yearning 
seized  upon  my  soul.  At  the  back  of  that  ridge  of  pur- 
ple crags,  which  I  could  almost  touch  with  my  hand, 
lived  my  aged  parents  ;  lived,  sighed — perhaps  sighed  no 
longer — my  injured  Helena,  the  first  loved  of  my  heart! 
Were  not  the  I'ocky  screen  between,  I  might  actually  at 
that  instant  behold  their  now  melancholy  homes,  and  in 
less  than  an  hour  I  might  restore  the  mourning  tenants 
to  their  wonted  serenity.  I  might  receive  and  bestow 
the  embraces  of  love  and  of  duty ;  I  might  again  pos- 
sess the  united  blessings  of  those  whom  1  had  so  cru- 
elly abandoned ;  I  might  tell  them,  "  Anastasius  has 
fought,  Anastasius  has  vanquished,  Anastasius  returns 
to  you.  He  returns  to  deposite  at  your  adored  feet,  and 
to  sacrifice  to  your  love  and  your  pardon,  the  laurels  he 
has  gathered,  and  the  praise  and  promises  he  has  gained." 
"Now  is,"  thought  I — "  but  soon  irretrievably  to  vanish 
— the  moment  in  which  to  recover  kindred,  country, 
peace  of  mind,  and  connubial  happiness.  If  again  cast 
away,  they  mu.''t  be  lost  for  ever !" 

Frantic  at  i^  s  thought,  I  hastily'left  the  deck,  and  hur- 
ried to  the  drugueman,  to  putrcat  thut  T  might  be  put 
ashore,  and  allowed  to  return  among  my  friends. 

On  what  trifling  circumstances  depends  the  fate  of  our 
lives!  Had  I  felt  less  anxious  I  should  have  succeeded. 
I  should  have  reached  my  master's  presence,  have  pre- 
ferred my  petition,  have  obtained  my  suit,  have  "been 
reinstated  in  my  filial  privileges,  and  probably  at  this 
time  have  l)eon  the  happy  father  of  a  numerous  progeny 
of  my  own,  with  the  soothing  prospect  of  a  tranquil  and 
respected  old  age. 

A  nail  head  made  the  difference ! — A  nail  head  causes 
me,  by  remote  consequences,  at  the  distance  of  many 
years,  to  die  in  a  strange  land,  a  premature  and  painful 
death.  Not  sufliciently  clenched  in  the  boards,  this  un- 
fortunate iron  (on  which  may  lie  all  my  sins !)  protruded 

*  Slarnbool — the  Turkish  corruption  of  the  Greek  tit  rrjvroXn',  pronounced 
by  tliem  ees  tceii  bolin,  and  used  to  denote  their  going  to  the  city  kut'  clox»iv\ 


ANASTASIUS.  43 

most  unwarrantably  from  the  steps  of  the  cabin.  Several 
times  already  it  had  caught  my  flowing  dress ;  and  each 
time  condemned  to  decapitation,  it  had  only  been  re- 
prieved from  thoughtlessness.  In  the  eagerness  of  the 
moment,  I  hooked  it  with  my  shaksheer,*  as  I  ran  down 
stairs,  and,  losing  my  balance,  fell,  and  came  with  my 
scull  against  the  lloor  of  the  cabin. 

Senseless  from  the  shock,  I  only  recovered  to  find  my- 
self lying  on  the  deck,  with  my  head  in  tl)e  lap  of  one 
of  the  Pasha's  tchawooshes.  Tlie  first  thing  upon 
which  my  eyes  opened  was  his  vest — one  of  those  gor- 
geous specimens  of  embroidery  which  I  had  so  greedily 
coveted,  and  had  so  fully  determined  some  day  to  obtain: 
the  first  thing  I  heard  was  a  condescending  message  of 
inquiry  from  the  pasha  himself!  So  much  glare  daz- 
zled my  senses ;  so  great  an  honour  overpowered  my 
weak  brain.  For  some  time,  indeed,  I  scarce  could  re- 
member what  had  occupied  my  thoughts  prior  to  my 
accident.  All  in  my  mind  was  confusion  and  darkness  ; 
and  when  I  again  began  with  some  clearness  to  retrace 
my  ideas,  the  contact  was  too  immediate  with  one  spe- 
cies of  object  near  my  heart,  not  to  feel  the  attraction 
of  other  more  distant  treasures,  weak  in  comparison.  It 
now  seemed  to  me  a  womanly  act  to  cast  away  all  the 
fruit  of  the  perils  I  had  passed,  of  the  reputation  I  had 
gained,  and  of  the  favour  I  had  earned  : — to  exchange 
the  fame  and  greatness  that  awaited  me,  for  obscurity 
and  oblivion ;  to  prefer  to  the  destinies  of  the  eagle, 
soaring  from  region  to  region,  those  of  the  worm,  content 
to  die  in  the  same  clod  in  which  he  was  born,  and  per- 
haps crushed  to  death  before  his  time  by  the  more  bold 
and  aspiring.  I  knew  I  should  be  laughed  at  by  all  on 
board  only  for  hinting  such  a  whim ;  and,  on  fiuthcr  re- 
flection, I  felt  not  at  all  sure  that  my  very  filial  duty  itself 
did  not  make  it  incumbent  upon  me  to  seek  at  Constan- 
tinople that  rank,  whicli  might  be  so  powerful  a  protection 
to  my  parents  on  their  little  island. 

Still,  however,  some  inward  doubt  remained.  As  soon 
as  I  was  able  to  move,  I  rose  and  ran  to  the  side  of  the 
ship,  to  see  what  way  she  had  been  making  since  my 
accident,  and  whether  there  still  was  time  to  execute  my 
design.  Ohio  had  already  dwindled  away  into  a  scarce 
visible  speck.     The  magnet  ceased  to  act ;  my  lately  ex-. 

*  Shakslieer—ample  breeches  made  of  cloth. 


44  ANASTASIUS. 

cited  feelings  subsided,  and  my  no  longer  distracted  mind 
gradually  resumed  its  former  hopes,  its  vanities,  and  its 
ambition.  Its  current  again,  as  before,  only  flowed 
whither  our  prow  was  tending.  Stambool  again  became, 
as  before,  its  polar  star ;  and  if  some  natural  regi'ets  still 
arose  at  intervals,  the  new  and  bustling  scene  wliich  en- 
sued, during  the  few  days  we  lay  at  anchor  before  Myti- 
lene  and  Tenedos,  completely  dispelled  them.  These 
days  appeared  to  me  so  many  ages,  only  from  their  de- 
laying our  arrival  in  tlie  capital. 

At  last  we  entered  the  Boghaz!*  stunned  by  the  inces- 
sant thundering  of  an  almost  uninterrupted  succession 
of  batteries,  lining  the  shore  right  and  left  all  the  way,  I 
felt  not  the  less  as  if  sharing  all  the  honours  of  their 
salutes,  and  could  scarce  repress  my  joy  and  exultation. 
In  a  few  hours,  I  was  to  behold  that  celebrated  city, 
whose  origin  lay  hid  in  the  obscurity  of  ages,  whose 
ancient  greatness  had  often  been  the  theme  of  my  infant 
wonder,  and  whose  humiliation  under  the  Othoman  yoke 
I  had,  in  concert  with  my  didaskalosf  of  Ohio,  frequently 
lamented  with  tears ;  but  which — even  in  its  present 
degraded  state,  and  groaning  under  the  despotism  of  the 
xTurks — had,  from  a  child,  been  the  final  object  of  aU  my 
views  and  wishes. 

A  most  favourable  wind  continued  to  swell  our  sails. 
Our  mighty  keel  shot  rapidly  through  the  waves  of  the 
Propontis,  foaming  before  our  prow.  Every  instant  the 
vessel  seemed  to  advance  with  accelerated  speed;  as  if 
— become  animated — it  felt  the  near  approach  to  its  place 
of  rest ;  and  at  last  Constantinople  rose  in  all  its  grandeur 
before  us. 

With  eyes  riveted  on  the  opening  splendours,  I 
watched,  as  they  rose  out  of  the  bosom  of  the  surround- 
ing waters,  the  pointed  minarets,  the  swelling  cupolas, 
and  the  innnmorable  habitations,  wliich,  either  stretching 
away  along  the  winding  shore,  reflected  their  image  in 
the  wave,  or  creeping  up  the  steep  sides  of  the  moun- 
tain, traced  their  outline  on  the  sky.  At  first  agglome- 
rated in  a  single  confused  mass,  the  less  parts  of  this 
immense  whole  seemed,  as  we  advanced,  by  degrees  to 
unfold,  to  disengage  themselves  from  each  other,  and  to 

*  The  Boghaz— generic  Turkish  name  for  straits ;  here  applied  to  those  of 
the  Dardanelles. 
t  Didaskalos— a  teacher. 


ANASTASIUS.  43 

grow  into  various  groups,  divided  by  wide  chasms  and 
deep  indentures — until  at  last  the  clusters,  thus  far  dis- 
tantly connected,  became  transformed,  as  if  by  magic, 
into  three  entirely  different  cities,*  each  individually  of 
prodigious  extent,  and  each  separated  from  the  others  by 
a  wide  arm  of  that  sea  whose  silver  tide  encompassed 
their  stupendous  base,  and  made  it  rest  half  on  Europe 
and  half  on  Asia.  Entranced  by  the  magnificent  spec- 
tacle, 1  felt  as  if  all  the  faculties  of  my  soul  were  insuffi- 
cient fully  to  embrace  its  glories :  I  hardly  retained  power 
to  breathe  ;  and  almost  apprehended  that  in  doing  so,  I 
might  dispel  the  gorgeous  vision,  and  find  its  whole  vast 
fabric  only  a  delusive  dream  ! 


CHAPTER  IV. 

It  was  with  difficulty  I  could  collect  my  scattered 
senses,  when  the  time  came  to  step  down  into  the  nut- 
shell, all  azure  and  gold,  which  waited  to  convey  the 
diogueman's  suite  to  the  Fanar,  where,  with  the  other 
principal  Greeks,  Mavroyeni  had  his  residence.  Each 
stroke  of  the  oar,  after  we  had  pushed  off  from  the  ship, 
made  our  light  caickf  glide  by  some  new  palace,  more 
splendid  than  those  which  preceded  it ;  and  every  fresh 
edifice  I  beheld,  grander  in  its  appearance  than  the 
former,  was  immediately  set  down  in  my  mind  as  my 
master's  habitation.  I  began  to  feel  uneasy  when  I  per- 
ceived that  we  had  passed  the  handsomest  district,  and 
were  advancing  towards  a  less  showy  quarter;  I  suffered 
increasing  pangs  as  we  were  made  to  step  ashore  on  a 
mean-looking  quay,  and  to  turn  into  a  narrow  dirty  lane ; 
and  I  attained  the  acme  of  my  dismay,  when  arrived 
opposite  a  house  of  a  dark  and  dingy  hue,  apparently 
crumbling  to  pieces  with  age  and  neglect,J  I  was  told 

*  Three  entirely  different  cities— namely,  Constantinnjile,  Galata,  nml 
Scutari. 

t  Caick — light  wherry  of  a  most  elegant  shape  plying  about  the  quays  of 
Constantinople. 

t  A  house  of  dark  and  dingy  hue,  crumbling  to  pieces  with  age  and  neglect 
— the  former  circumstance  being  in  consequence  of  the  sumptuary  laws  imposed 
by  the  Turks  upon  the  Greeks;  the  latter  in  cons:>(|Ucnce  of  the  Greeks  often 
affecting  poverty  in  order  to  avoid  being  heavily  taxed  by  their  tyrants. 


46  ANASTASItJS. 

«hat  there  lived  the  Lord  Mavroyeni.  At  first  I  tried  to 
persuade  myself  that  my  companions  were  jokmg;  but, 
too  soon  assured  they  only  spoke  the  truth,  I  entered 
with  a  fainting  heart.  A  new  surprise  awaited  me  within. 
That  despised  fir-wood  case  of  dusky  brown,  the  regular 
uniform  of  all  the  Fanariote  palaces,  and  which  seemed 
so  much  out  of  repair  that  the  very  blinds  were  dropping 
off  their  hinges,  contained  rooms  furnished  with  all  the 
splendour  of  eastern  magnificence.  Persian  carpets 
covered  the  floors,  Genoa  velvets  clothed  the  walls,  and 
gilt  trellice-work  overcast  the  lofty  ceilings.  Clouds  of 
rich  perfumes  rose  on  all  sides  from  silver  censers.  And 
soon  I  found  that  this  dismal  exterior  was  a  homage  paid 
by  the  ciuming  of  the  Greek  gentry  to  the  fanaticism 
of  the  Turkish  mob,  impatient  of  whatever  may,  in 
Christ  ians,  savour  of  ostentation  or  parade.  The  persons 
of  the  Fanariote  grandees  were  of  a  piece  with  their 
liabitations.  Within  doors  sinking  under  the  weight  of 
rich  furs,  costly  sliawls,  jewels,  and  trinkets,  they  went 
out  into  the  streets  wrapped  in  coarse,  and  dingy,  and 
often  tineadbaie  clotliing. 

My  arrival  in  the  capital  was  almost  immediately  fol- 
lowed by  a  removal  from  my  private  situation  to  a  more 
public  office.  Whether  the  drogueman  of  the  capitan- 
pasha  thought  it  unbecoming  for  a  sprig  of  his  own  body 
— a  drogueman's  son — to  appear  in  the  capacity  of  a 
domestic,  or  whether  he  conceived  a  taooshan  like  him- 
self, unconnectetl  with  his  rivals  in  office  and  entirely 
dependent  on  his  nod,  was,  in  point  of  trustworthiness, 
the  next  thing  to  a  mamluke;*  or  whether,  finally,  he 
considered  my  acquirements  and  my  capabilities  as  above 
being  (Micumscribed  by  llie  exigencies  of  a  coffee-tray, 
he  had  scarce  had  time  to  look  aliout  him,  ere  he  con- 
ferred upon  me  the  employment — I  would  say  tlie  dignity 
— of  relieving  him  of  some  of  the  lesser  details  of  his 
business,  which  consisted  in  every  day  attending  at  the 
arsenal,  there  to  introduce  to  the  high  admiral  the  per- 
sons, and  to  interpret  the  petitions  of  Greeks  and  of 
foreigners;  for  in  tlie  style  of  th(;  Turkish  diplomacy,  a 
Christian  ambassador  demanding  an  audience  was  intro- 
duced as  a  supplicant  preferring  a  suit. 

While,  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  office,  Mavroyeni 

*  Mamluke— name  given  ainoni'  Mohammedans  to  sikIi  wliite  slaves  as  are 
destined  to  be  gradually  promoted  to  oflices  of  importance  within  doors  and 
•without. 


ANASTASIU3.  47 

himself  held  his  usual  station  in  the  capitan-pasha's  own 
apartment,  I  was  installed  in  a  small  adjoining  room, 
where  I  had  to  hear,  to  understand  if  I  could ;  or,  whether 
I  understood  or  not,  to  set  down  and  condense  into  the 
shortest  possible  written  abstract,  the  long  stories  of 
petitioners,  and  the  endless  dialogues  of  disputants;  a 
thing  which,  the  less  I  could  make  out  of  the  business 
the  better  I  always  succeeded  in.  It  was  here  I  learned 
that  art  of  generalizing  so  esteemed,  as  I  am  told,  among 
Frank*  philosophers. 

Undoubtedly,  had  I  had  my  choice,  I  should  have  pre- 
ferred the  truncheon  to  the  pen.  But  the  drogueman 
had  not  the  former  in  his  gift ;  and  the  tedium  of  the 
latter  was  materially  relieved  by  certain  circumstances 
attached  to  its  exercise.  For  it  soon  became  notorious, 
that  nothing  assisted  me  so  much  in  giving  weight  to  a 
case  as  a  few  sequins,  slipped  from  sheer  absence  of 
mind  between  the  leaves  of  the  huge  quire  of  paper 
always  before  me ;  and  in  this  respect  the  difference 
between  my  master  and  myself  only  consisted  in  his 
receiving  pursesf  where  I  received  single  pieces. 

Still,  to  one  who  loved  money  only  as  the  means  of 
pleasure,  my  confinement  could  not  but  be  irksome  ;  and 
the  moment  that  Mavroyeni  disappeared,  I  too  used  to 
break  up  my  levees,  and  to  saunter  about.  Whenever 
my  master  was  employed  by  the  pasha  in  some  long- 
winded  expedition,  I  proceeded,  either  to  spend  the 
money  already  earned  in  some  of  the  costly  articles 
displayed  for  sale  in  the  various  tcharchees  and 
bezesteens,t  or  to  procure  new  customers  for  my  own 
shop,  by  boasting  in  the  coffee-houses  and  taverns  of  my 
influence  witli  the  drogueman.  Was  Mavroyeni,  on  the 
contrary,  only  expected  to  make  a  short  absence,  I  con- 
tented myself  with  taking  a  turn  round  the  precincts  of 
the  arsenal. 

In  one  of  these  rambles  I  remember  being  shown  two 
highly  esteemed  productions  of  tlie  pictorial  art,  pre- 
sented by  the  drogueman  to  the  pasha.  They  were 
representations   of  two  of  Hassan's  most  memorable 

*  Frank  philosophers — AH  Europeans  not  rayahs,  and  therefore  considered 
OS  strangers  in  Turliey,  are  called  F"ranks  or  Franguee,  their  country  Frangue- 
stan.and  the  corrupt  idiom  cornposedof  their  various  languages,  current  along 
the  Mohammedan  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  Lingua  Franca. 

t  Purses — denomination  for  a  sum  of  five  hundred  piastres. 

i  Tcharchees  and  Bezesteens — places  in  Turkish  cities,  distinct  from  the 
habitations  of  the  merchants,  in  wliich  they  keep  and  sell  their  wares 


46  ANASTASIUS. 

achievements ;  the  surprisal  of  the  Russians  at  Lemnos, 
and  the  bombardment  of  Daher  at  Acre.  In  these  chef- 
d'osuvres  all  was  depicted  with  the  utmost  accuracy — 
the  vessels,  the  batteries,  the  guns,  the  very  balls  whizzing 
through  the  air,  and  the  shells  falling  on  the  buildings. 
One  feature  alone  was  omitted  in  compliment  to 
Turkish  prejudices ;  a  mere  trifle — the  combatants  them- 
selves! The  picture  certainly  was  not  painted  to  the 
life ;  but  this  very  circumstance — I  averred  to  the  Turkish 
officer  my  cicerone — so  far  from  lessening  its  value,  was 
in  my  opinion,  the  most  judicious  thing  I  had  ever  beheld. 
The  great  point  in  works  of  art,  my  language  master  at 
Chio  liad  told  me,  was  only  to  bring  forward  the  leading 
objects,  the  essential  suppoiters  of  the  action ;  and  to 
discard  all  insignificant  and  superfluous  accessories. 
Now,  what  was  it  that,  in  engagements  by  land  or  by 
water,  did  all  the  execution  ?  The  men  1 — By  no  means ! 
They  only  stood  aloof.  It  was  the  shells,  the  bullets,  the 
grape-shot.  So  much  did  the  acuteness  of  this  remark 
delight  the  officer,  that  in  his  rapture  he  clapped  his 
broad  whiskers  to  my  face,  and  swore  I  was  the  only 
sensible  Greek  he  ever  had  met  with.  It  was  evident 
that  he  knew  not  a  countryman  of  mine,  whom  I  found 
one  morning  in  excessive  wrath  with  a  Perote  artist — a 
Frank — for  having  painted  him  a  Madonna  Avith  such 
force  of  light  and  shade,  as  absolutely  to  stand  out  from 
the  canvass.  He  swore  it  was  a  scandalous  production ; 
almost  as  bad  as  an  image !  And  the  poor  artist  could 
not  even  obtain  praise  for  his  talent,  much  less  payment 
for  his  labour. 

I  had  been  several  weeks  at  Constantinople  without 
yet  seeing  my  patron's  lady.  Not  that,  like  Turkish 
wives,  she  was  kept  secluded  in  his  harem;*  but,  on  the 
contrary,  because,  in  order  to  enjoy  greater  freedom,  she 
preferred  spending  her  autumn  at  his  villa  on  the  Bos- 
phorus.  One  afternoon  Mavroyeni  took  me  to  Tlierapiaf 
in  Ills  caick,  and  I  was  there  presented  to  the  domina. 
She  happened  to  be  sunning  her  plump  charms  on  the 
quay.  Nothing  could  exceed  tlie  siateliness  of  her 
appearance ;  and  liad  she  not  been  as  broad  as  she  was 
long,  she  would  have  looked   uncommonly  dignified. 

*  Harem— the  Turkish  name  for  the  apartment  of  the  women:  seraglio,  or 
serai,  meaning  palac;  in  general. 

t  Therapia— one  of  the  villages  on  the  Bosphorus,  in  which  the  Greeks  of 
quality  make  their  country  residences. 


ANASTAS1U8.  49 

Half  a  dozen  female  attendants  who  surrounded  her  had 
nothinj?  to  do  but  to  support  her  august  person;  too 
important  to  support  itself.  One  walked  on  before  with 
a  peacock-tail  fan,  to  keep  the  flies  from  her  shining 
face ;  and  another  behind,  to  shake  the  dust  off  her  still 
more  lustroius  gown. 

An  untoward  accident  was  fated  to  happen,  just  as 
every  thing  seemed  disposed  to  strike  a  new  comer  with 
all  possible  awe  and  acmiratior}.  At  the  farthest  outlet 
of  the  channel,  in  the  very  middle  of  its  silvery  expanse, 
on  the  verge  of  the  horizon,  was  descried  a  dark  speck 
that  iookecf  endowed  wi^h  motion.  Rapidly  the  opaque 
body  advanced,  skimming  the  surface  of  the  waters  like 
a  swallow ;  and,  as  it  approached,  it  increased  in  size 
and  in  consequence.  Its  wide  extending  fins  dipped  into 
the  waves  like  the  pinions  of  the  swallow,  while  its  sharp 
and  prominent  beak  cut  its  way  through  the  billows  like 
the  shark  or  swordfish.  All  eyes  were  riveted  upon  the 
threatening  monster,  and  presently  no  one  but  myself 
any  longer  remained  in  ignorance  of  its  nature  or  pur- 
port. It  stood  confessed — O  horror! — not  exactly  a 
dragon  come  to  devour  bur  princess  on  the  seashore 
like  another  Andromeda,  in  order  to  give  me  an  opportu- 
nity of  signalizing  my  gallantry  as  her  Perseus;  but 
something' as  bad,  something  worse,  something  full  as 
savage,  and  much  more  inglorious:  the  bostandgee- 
bashee,*  in  his  police  boat,  coming  to  nibble  at  the  trains 
of  the  Greek  princesses,  which  exceeded  the  standard 
of  the  Tm-kish  sumptuary  laws.  At  this  teirific  sight 
the  arms  of  the  six  suivantes  all  dropped  with  one  accord 
by  their  sides,  and  with  them  dropped  to  the  ground  their 
mistress's  train.  The  snow-white  ermine  swept  the  filth 
of  the  road;  while  its  wearer — who  just  before  had 
appeared  scarce  able  to  stir  a  step  without  assistance 
— suddenly  recovered  the  entire  use  of  her  legs,  and 
waddled  away  by  herself  as  nimbly  as  a  duck  pursued 
by  a  kite,  until  she  got  behind  a  wall,  where  she  stopped 
to  take  breath. 

As  soon  as  the  tenified  party  had  safely  reached  the 
house,  the  fault  of  the  precipitate  retreat  was  laid  on  the 
impending  shower.  I  had  the  imprudence,  fool  that  I 
was,  to  nm  and  look  for  a  cloud.  The  only  one  I  could 
find  was  that  gathering  on  the  lady's  own  brow ;   and 

•  The  Bostindgee-basliee— officer  who  acts  as  ranker  of  the  BUltan'a 
demesne,  and  superintends  the  police  of  the  watese  about  Constantinople. 

Vol.  I.— C 


60  ANASTASIUS. 

my  officiousness  got  me  a  look  in  that  quarter,  which 
boded  more  storms  than  hovered  in  March  over  the 
Bosphorus. 

"What  could  the  company  do,  in  the  uncertain  state  of 
the  sky,  but  collect  round  the  tandoor  1* — that  safe  refuge 
against  the  winter's  rigours,  that  eastern  nondescript, 
which,  in  the  angle  of  the  mitred  sofa,  holds  a  middle 
character  between  the  table  and  the  bed;  and  underneath 
whose  embroidered  coverlet  all  the  legs  of  the  snug  party 
converge  round  a  pot  of  lighted  charcoal,  there  to  stew 
for  the  evening;  while  from  its  fringed  outskirts,  drawn 
over  the  shoulders,  pop  out  and  diverge  on  every  side 
their  respective  heads  and  headdresses.  Like  the  rest, 
I  crept  under  the  bed-clothes. 

Tiiis  was  my  first  time  of  being  admitted  to  a  gossiping 
party  of  quality ;  and  I  must  in  justice  to  its  members 
confess,  that  it  yielded  not  to  those  of  inferior  rank.  In 
the  course  of  an  hour  or  two  I  heard  a  very  reasonable 
quantity  of  scandal.  There  was  no  recent  occurrence  in 
church  or  state,  armj'  or  navy,  boards  or  bedchambers, 
the  bab-humayoonf  or  the  back-stairs,  but  was  properly 
collected,  combined,  compared,  dissected,  amended,  and 
circulated.  I  now  for  the  first  time  learned,  to  my  in- 
finite satisfaction,  both  the  precise  offence  of  the  last 
vizier  beheaded,  and  the  precise  length  of  the  last  ferid- 
jeej  curtailed.  I  was  informed  in  the  same  breath  how 
the  great  Morosi  managed  his  principality,  and  liow  the 
little  Manolacki  conducted  his  courtship ;  how  the  patri- 
arch had  quarrelled  with  the  archons,i^  and  how  the 
spatar|j  had  beaten  his  wife ;  how  the  mortgages  of  the 
churcli  were  redeeming,  and  how  the  slipperJP  money  of 
the  sultanas  was  engaged  :  and  I  so  confidently  heard  it 
asserted  by  a  gentleman  on  my  right,  that  the  conference 
between  a  certain  ambassador  and  the  reis  effendee** 

*  Tandoor — a  square  table  placed  in  the  angle  of  the  sofa,  -with  a  brazier 
underni'ath  and  a  rich  counterpHne  over  it,  under  wliieh,  in  Greek  houses,  in 
cold  wcniher,  the  company  creep  close  to  each  other. 

t  HHbHu.iiayoon — the  imperial  gate,  or  principal  entrance  of  the  sultan's 
palace  at  ('on.stantinople. 

}  Ff'rifljce  -cloth  capote  worn  out  of  doors  by  the  Greek  and  Turkish  women 
of  Constanlinople. 

6  Archons  -denomination  assumed  by  the  principal  Greeks. 

(I  Spatar— swordliaarer;  one  of  the  i)rincipal  officers  at  the  courts  of  the 
hospodars  of  M.tldavia  and  Valncliia,  which  are  formed  on  the  mtKlel  of  the 
ancient  Greek  court  of  (;onstantiriople. 

V  gJipiHT  money  of  the  suliaiias— in  Turkish,  peshraalik.  Equivalent  to 
otjr  pin-money. 

**  Ueis  Effendee— the  Turkish  secretary  of  state  for  foreign  atfairs. 


ANASTASIUS.  51 

would  produce  a  new  war ;  and  by  a  lady  on  my  left, 
that  the  meeting-  between  a  certain  archimandrite  and 
his  ghostly  daughter  would  produce  a  new  christening, 
that  I  no" longer  doubted  that  the  fumes  of  the  brazier 
over  which  we  sat  must  haA'e  all  the  oracular  virtues 
which  issued  from  the  cave  of  Delphi.  On  going  to  bed 
I  expected  from  them  very  surprising  effects,  but  to  my 
disappointment  I  experienced  none  other  than  a  dream, 
in  which  I  beheld  the  sultan  pounding  the  grand  mufti  in 
a  mortar,'  and  tlie  pope  of  Rome  standing  by,  crying 
bravo! — "Bravo!"  echoed  T,  with  all  my  might,— when 
my  own  voice  waking  me,  I  got  up  to  return  with  my 
master  to  the  capital.         ► 

"  Weil,  Anastasius,"  said  the  drogueman  to  me  as  Ave 
were  cleaving  the  waves  of  the  Bosphoius,  "how  do  you 
like  our  Constantinople  life  V 

"Very  much,"  was  the  answer  evidently  expected, but 
which  I  did  not  give ;— feeling  little  edified  with  my  visit 
to  Therania,  where  T  had  had  my  share  of  the  second- 
hand iiisokMice  which  the  Fanariotes  take  very  quietly 
from  the  Turks,  only  to  put  it  off  among  the  Taooshaiis. 
"Not  at  all,"  was  the  short  reply  I  made. 

The  droo  ueman  stared.  1  felt  "l  had  been  too  laconic. — 
"Were  the  rest  of  the  Greeks  I  see  here,"  added  I,  "at 
all  like  your  highness,  the  place  would  indeed  be  a  para- 
dise ;  but  this  capital  seems  to  change  the  nature  of  what- 
ever it  harbours  ;  and  my  countrymen,  so  gay,  so  light- 
hearted  at  Chio,  seem  at  the  Fanar  at  once  dull  and 
important.  Besides,  the  difference  made  between  Chris- 
tians and  Iviohammedans  here  is  too  great,  too  mortifying. 
The  few  Mo4emen  of  Chio  mingle  v.'ith  its  rayahs  on  a 
footing  of  equality.  They  almost  reckon  it  a  favour  to 
be  admitted  to  their  junketings.  But  here,  the  veiy 
noblest  of  the  Greeks — your  highness  alone  excepted — 
is  daily  exposed  to  the  insults  of  the  meanest  Turk. 
Were  it  not  for  my  principles,  I  would  rather  be  a  Turkish 
porter  than  a  Greek  prince." 

Mavioyeni  looked  thoughtful.  After  a  little  pause, 
"You  mistake,  Anastasius,"  replied  he,  "in  thinking  the 
Greek  of  Constantinople  different  from  the  Greek  of  Chio. 
Our  nation  is  every  where  the  same.     The   same  at 

*  Poundintc  tl  p  grand  mufti  in  a  mortar— according  to  the  ancient  mode  of 
capital  punislim.  iit  inflicted  on  the  heads  of  the  law,  whose  blood  it  was 
deemed  irrevei-end  to  shed. 

C2 


92  ANASTASIU8. 

Petersburg  as  at  Cairo ;  the  same  now  that  it  was  twenty 
centifries  ago." 

1  stared  in  my  turn. 

"What  I  say,"  continued  my  master,  "is  perfectly 
true.  The  complexion  of  the  modern  Greek  may  receive 
a  different  cast  from  different  surrounding  objects :  the 
core  still  is  the  same  as  in  the  days  of  Periclf^s.  Credu- 
lity, versatility,  and  thirst  of  distinctions  from  the  earliest 
periods  formed,  still  form,  and  ever  will  continue  to  form 
the  basis  of  the  Greek  character ;  and  the  dissimilarity 
in  the  external  appearance  of  the  nation  arises,  not  from 
any  radical  change  in  its  temper  and  disposition,  but  only 
from  the  incidental  variation  in  the  means  through  which 
the  same  propensities  are  to  be  gratified.  The  ancient 
Greeks  worshipped  a  hundred  gods,  the  modem  Greeks 
adore  as  many  saints.  The  ancient  Greeks  believed  in 
oracles  and  prodigies,  in  incantations  and  spells;  the 
modern  Greeks  have  faith  in  relics  and  miracles,  in  amu- 
lets and  divinations.  The  ancient  Greeks  brought  rich 
offerings  and  gifts  to  the  shrines  of  their  deities,  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  success  in  war,  and  pre-eminence  in 
peace;  the  modern  Greeks  hang  up  dirty  rags  round  the 
sanctuaries  of  their  saints,  to  shake  off  an  ague,  or  to 
propitiate  a  mistress.  The  former  were  stanch  patriots 
at  home,  and  subtle  courtiers  in  Persia ;  the  latter  defy 
the  Turks  in  Maj'no,  and  fawn  upon  them  at  the  Fanar. 
Besides,  was  not  every  commonwealth  of  ancient  Greece 
as  much  a  prey  to  cabals  and  factions  as  every  community 
of  modern  Greece  ?  Does  not  every  modern  Greek  pre- 
serve the  same  desire  for  supremacy,  the  same  readiness 
to  undermine  by  every  means,  fair  or  foul,  his  competitors, 
which  was  displayed  by  his  ancestors  1  Do  not  the  Turks 
of  the  present  day  resemble  the  Romans  of  past  ages  in 
their  respect  for  the  ingenuity,  and,  at  the  same  time,  in 
their  contempt  for  the  character  of  their  Greek  subjects  1 
And  does  the  Greek  of  the  Fanar  show  the  least  infe- 
riority to  the  Greek  of  the  Pincus  in  quickness  of  per- 
ception, in  fluency  of  tongue,  and  in  fondness  for  quibbles, 
for  disputation,  and  for  sophistry  ] — Believe  me,  the  very 
difference  between  the  Greeks  of  time  past  and  of  the 
present  day  arises  only  from  their  thorough  resemblance, 
from  that  equal  pliability  of  temper  and  of  faculties  in 
both,  which  has  ever  made  them  receive  with  equal  rea- 
diness the  impression  of  every  mould,  and  the  impulse 


ANASTASIUS.  53 

of  every  agent.  When  patriotism,  public  spirit,  and  pre- 
eminence in  arts,  science,  literature,  and  warfare  were 
the  road  to  distinction,  the  Greeks  shone  the  first  of 
patriots,  of  heroes,  of  painters,  of  poets,  and  of  philoso- 
phers. Now  that  craft  and  subtlety,  adulation  and  in- 
trigue, are  the  only  paths  to  greatness,  these  same  Greeks 
are — what  you  see  them  !" 

To  me  it  mattered  little  whether  the  modern  Greeks 
resembled  the  ancient  or  not,  as  long  as  I  was  not  reck- 
oned on  a  footing  with  my  neighbours  the  Fanariotes.  I 
therefore  paid  Mavroyeni  a  compliment  on  his  oratory, 
and  let  the  subject  drop ;  still  muttering  to  myself, 
"  Stambool  is  a  detestable  place !" 

It  remained  not  always  so.  The  Fanariotes — whose 
defect  is  not  want  of  quicksightedness — soon  perceived 
that  I  was  a  great  favourite  with  the  favourite  of  the 
favourite  par  excellence :  and  as  no  ramifications  of  this 
genus,  however  distant,  were  to  be  neglected,  I  began  to 
enjoy  my  due  share  of  adulation  and  of  consequence- 
Those  who  before  were  deaf  when  I  spoke  to  them,  now 
addressed  me  the  first ;  and  the  identical  joke  which  for- 
merly left  the  muscles  of  every  face  unmoved,  now  had 
the  power  to  set  a  whole  table  in  a  roar.  With  my  situa- 
tion ray  manners  underwent  a  total  change.  The  rude 
exterior  of  the  islander  had  been  exchanged  among  the 
caleondjees*  of  the  capitan-pasha  for  a  swaggering 
braggadocio  air.  The  martial  strut  was  now  laid  aside 
for  the  smooth  simpering  smile  of  the  courtier.  Instead 
of  spluttering  out  my  unpolished  sentences  by  half-dozens 
in  a  breath,  as  if  I  had  more  words  crammed  in  my 
throat  than  my  mouth  could  give  utterance  to,  I  now 
practised  with  a  nonchalant  air  to  drop  only  now  and 
then  a  significant  monosyllable,  so  profound  in  its  mean- 
ing that  nobody  could  get  at  it ; — and  as  to  the  mother 
tongue,  the  Romaicf  idiom,  it  was  no  longer  to  be  used, 
except  interlarded  with  such  scraps  of  French,  Italian, 
and  Turkish  as  to  render  it  almost  unintelligible  to  the 
vulgar  auditor.  Athwart  my  borrowed  languor  and  effemi- 
nacy, however,  the  native  vigour  and  raciness  of  the 
soil  would  break  forth  now  and  then  with  such  energetic 
bursts,  as  both  astonished  and  delighted  the  Fanariote 
fair.     To  them  my  rouglicast  homage  offered  an  accept- 


*  Caleondjees — marines,  from  caleon,  a  galley. 

t  Bomaic— the  inodero  Greek ;  as  Hellenic  means  the  ancient  Greek. 


54  ANASTASIUS. 

able  contrast  to  the  mawkish  tenderness  of  their  every- 
day admirers.  My  freedom  passed  for  naivete,  my 
neglect  of  forms  evinced  a  flattering  devotodness,  aiid 
my  rustic  exterior  promised  aflections  more  robust  and 
lasting  than  could  be  expected  from  the  siclcly  natives 
of  a  large  capital.  Flattered  by  the  men  and  smiled  upon 
by  the  women,  I  now  said  to  myself—"  «lambool  is  a 
charming  place !" 

So  great,  indeed,  became  in  it  my  vogue,  that,  had  my 
fastidiousness  been  less,  I  might  have  boasted  my  mis- 
tresses, as  our  great  men  have  their  pelisses,  suited  to 
every  season  of  the  year :  for  while  autumn  still  con- 
tinued to  pour  forth  fioin  her  golden  lap  every  richest  fruit 
and  dainty,  a  grocer's  fair  spouse — herself  "tlie  image  of 
ripeness  aad  of  plenty — otTercd  to  feed  my  good-will  with 
figs  and  raisins,  to  pay  for  tlie  sweets  of  my  converse  in 
honey  and  comfits,  and  to  support  the  ardour  of  my  affec- 
tions Willi  rosoglio  and  witli  spice  :  when  winter  began 
to  cliill  tlie  blood,  tlie  sleek  heljimate  of  a  fui  rier  would 
fain  have  dispelled  my  freezing  coldness,  l)y  means  of 
cat  and  rabbit  skins,  nay,  have  raised  the  wished-for 
warmth  in  my  heart,  at  tlie  expense  of  all  her  husband's 
rarest  ermines  and  sables ;  and  when  returning  spring 
enamelled  every  field  with  fresh  flowers,  I  beheld  at  my 
feet  a  whole  bevy  of  beauties,  just  budding,  like  the  violet 
and  the  daisy,  and,  to  own  the  truth,  as  httle  exalted:— 
but  comfits  were  only  hires  for  boys;  ermine  had  no 
charms,  except  as  the  garb  of  royalty;  and  even  beauty 
itself  could  scarcely  obtain  even  my  passing  attentions, 
when  destitute  of  rank  and  fashion. 

The  first  lady  possiissed  of  these  latter  attributes, 
whom  I  found  disposed  to  cast  an  eye  of  comiiassion  on 
my  siifTcrings,  was  of  the  devout  order,  and  the  very 
domiuH  wlio  had  excited  the  oracular  ingenuity  of  one 
of  the  party  on  my  first  visit  to  Theiapia.  'i'he  worthy 
archiniaiKhite  to  whom  were  intrusted  her  spiritual  con- 
cerns liad,oii  the  application  of  her  iiusband,  biMin  exiled 
by  the  patriarch  to  the  lioly  mountain,*  in  order  to  pursue 
his  meditation  with  less  interruption.  Tlie  lady,  now 
finding  tliat  even  the  long  beard  of  a  priest  was  not  able 
to  screen  lier  reputation,  resolved  to  try  wlicther  the 
beardless  face  of  a  boy  would  ensure  it  from  further 
scratches. 

.^L  K ''?  ''"'^  mountain-Mount  Aihos ;  thai  beautiful  promontory,  now  occu 
plod  by  twemy-iwo  Greek  couveius. 


ANASTASIUS.  55 

A  first  success,  obtained  in  a  distinguished  quarter  from 
real  preference,  leads  to  others  granted  by  vanity.  But 
with  my  fashion  increased  my  fastidiousness.  All  could 
not  catch  that  laid  snares  for  me ;  nor  could  all  keep  that 
caught  me.  My  favour  was  precarious,  and — a  little  ty- 
rant in  love — I  treated  the  tender  passion  quite  in  the 
Turkish  style. 

Still  I  continued  undistinguished,  nay,  unheeded  by 
the  proud  Theophania.  Not  even  by  accident  could  this 
lofty  lady's  looks  descend  to  my  level.  She  appeared  un- 
conscious that  a  being  so  insignificant  as  myself  existed, 
filled  its  portion  of  space,  and  breathed  the  same  air 
with  her  noble  lungs.  If  she  wished  to  move  from  one 
part  of  the  room  t«o  another,  and  I  happened  to  stand  in 
the  way,  her  hand  would  mechanically  push  me  aside, 
without  the  participation  of  her  mind,  like  a  chair  or  a 
table,  while  her  averted  eye  was  directed  to  some  more 
distant  point  of  space.  In  vain  I  might  lay  myself  out 
for  her  approbation — I  could  not  even  obtain  her  satire. 
The  very  ridicule  of  Theophania  would  have  been  too 
much  notice  for  one  so  low  as  I.  It  was  positive  con- 
descension in  her,  one  day  when,  in  an  humbler  quarter,  I 
showed  myself  insatiate  of  adulation,  to  turn  round  to 
me,  and  witli  some  impatience  to  say,  "  great  people,  sir, 
are  praised :  little  ones  should  be  at  the  trouble  of  praising 
themselves  I" — So  violent  indeed  was  her  temper,  and  so 
sarcastic  her  conversation  with  individuals  of  every  rank 
and  degree,  that  even  the  most  distinguished  among  the 
Fanariotes  only  approached  her  with  fear  and  trembling, 
and,  as  soon  as  the  indispensable  rites  of  politeness  had 
been  performed,  hastened  away,  ere,  like  the  drones  in  a 
hive,  they  felt  the  sting  of  this  intractable  queen-bee. 
The  shafts  of  Cupid  she  had  usually  turned  aside  by  her 
petulance ;  but  the  few  times  they  happened  to  draw  blood, 
she  had  loved  as  others  hate. 

Undismayed  bj'  these  difliculties,  I  swore  she  should  be 
at  the  feet  of  the  Taooslian  whom  she  vouchsafed  not  to 
suff'er  at  her  own;  and  thenceforward  bent  the  whole 
force  of  my  genius  towards  attracting  her  attention,  and 
exciting  her  interest.  When  therefore  she,  who  at  first 
had  feared  to  disgrace  her  pretty  pouting  lips  with  the 
mere  sound  of  my  name,  began  to  abuse  my  person  and 
my  character  with  most  lo(|uacious  virulence,  I  considered 
my  triumph  as  secure.  "  Theophania,"  cried  I — though 
not  yet  loud  enough  lo  be  heard  by  herself—"  you  only 


56  ANASTASIUS. 

pursue  me  with  contemptuous  looks,  to  feast  your  eye  on 
my  person ;  and  you  only  load  me  with  opprobrious  epi- 
thets, to  fix  your  mind  on  my  image  !" 

If  at  last — which  love  and  discretion  forbid  my  ever 
boasting ! — the  prize  rewarded  my  pains,  yet  troublesome 
was  its  tenure.  The  Euxine  passes  not  more  quickly 
from  tranquillity  to  storms,  than  from  serenity  to  passion 
changed  my  tempestuous  and  variable  mistress.  One 
moment,  infatuated  to  perfect  forgetfulness  of  her  pride 
and  station,  she  would  clasp  my  knees  in  ecstasy,  and, 
humbling  herself  to  my  very  feet,  glory  in  her  debase- 
ment ;  the  next,  choking  with  rage,  she  would  suddenly 
start  up  again,  rail  at  her  degradation,  wonder  what  she 
saw  in  me  to  admire,  and  charge  me,  on  my  liA;,  to  dis- 
close by  what  spell  I  liad  compelled  her  affections ;  but 
again,  after  having  heaped  upon  me  every  direst  execra- 
tion which  her  fertile  fancy  could  suggest,  her  passion 
would  take  another  turn,  and,  bursting  into  a  flood  of  tears, 
she  would  conjure  me  by  all  that  was  most  sacred,  if  I 
could  not  return  her  love,  at  least  to  pity  her  agony — and 
assist  in  breaking  the  charm  I  liad  wrought,  by  rendering 
myself  purposely  as  hateful  as  possible. 

What  more  could  I  do  than  I  did  l  The  only  thing  she 
ever  saw  me  coax  were  my  own  little  budding  mus- 
tachioes,  whose  education  and  growth  I  watched  over  with 
the  tenderness  of  an  anxious  parent :  the  only  things  she 
ever  lieard  me  praise  were  the  qualities  to  which  she  had 
the  least  pretension — self-comarand,  endurance,  meek- 
ness. The  preferences  I  felt  in  other  quarters  I  freely 
owned  ;  and  the  consolations  I  found  when  she  banished 
me  her  presence,  I  regularly  enumerated.  In  my  viUgar 
exultation  (for  vulgar  it  was),  I  treated  with  the  iamiliar- 
ity  of  a  clown  one  who  had  been  used  to  the  deference 
of  a  queen;  and  to  all  such  as  had  formerly  suffered  from 
Theophania's  insolence,  I  boasted  of  being  their  avenger. 
Yet,  in  spite  of  my  conduct,  her  love  lessened  not;  it 
only  became  more  notorious  ;  it  afforded  a  sneering  pub- 
lic a  richer  treat;  and  at  mass  every  eye  in  tlie  church 
seemed  constantly  vibrating  between  the  grated  gallery 
above,  wliere  Theophania  sat  with  the  other  women,  and 
the  part  of  the  nave  below  where,  by  her  express  desire, 
I  took  my  station,  in  order  that  she  might  see  me  during 
her  devout  prayeis. 

Let  man  make  his  confidential  friend  of  no  woman,  ex- 
cept such  a  one  as  he  cannot  possibly  mifke  his  mis- 


ANASTASIUS.  57 

tress ;  viz.  his  mother,  his  sister,  or  his  aunt. »  If  she  hap- 
pen not  to  stand  with  him  in  any  of  these  forbidden 
relationships,  be  she  ever  so  old,  or  ugly,  or  infirm,  she 
will  end  by  feeling  disappointed;  and  will  accuse  her  un- 
suspecting friend  of  both  too  much  and  too  little  reserve. 

A  quiet,  demure-looking  woman — one  of  tliose  persons 
with  whom  one  feels  as  much  at  ease  the  tirst  time  of 
seeing  them  as  with  an  old  acquaintance — once  or  twice 
so  good-naturedly  cautioned  me,  when  on  the  point  of  im- 
prudently courting  public  censure,  that  I  determined,  pro- 
fessedly, to  open  to  her  my  whole  heart  and  circum- 
stances. Why  not  1  "  She  herself  had  renounced  all  love 
engagements.  They  gave  more  trouble  than  they  were 
worth  ;  and  she  infinitely  preferred  to  the  feverish  enjoy- 
ments of  passion  the  calm  pleasures  of  friendship — that 
is,  of  stable  male  friendship,  which  one  could  depend 
upon.  A  tenderer  intercourse  she  only  contemplated  in 
others  at  a  distance,  by  way  of  amusement,  and  in  order 
to  study  human  nature  la  its  different  varieties  and  shades. 
As  to  female  friendship,  she  held  it  in  the  contempt  it  de- 
served." The  looks  of  this  good  lady  had  informed  me 
that  she  perfectly  knew  all  my  doings.  Giving  her  my 
confidence,  therefore,  was  only  binding  her  to  discretion ; 
and,  at  first,  I  saw  every  reason  to  congratulate  myself 
upon  this  determination.  The  tone  of  my  new  friend, 
with  me,  was  that  of  a  mother  with  her  son ;  overflowing 
only  with  parental  tenderness.  Her  whole  anxiety  was 
to  keep  an  inexperienced  youth  out  of  difficulties.  But 
I  soon  found  that,  from  her  appeals  to  my  prudence,  the 
company  present  was  always  excepted.  Incensed  at  this 
discovery,  I  spoke  in  anger,  and  was  answered  with  as- 
perity. We  parted,  no  more  to  meet  in  friendship  ; — but 
I  continued  not  the  less  to  live  in  the  remembrance  of 
this  excellent  person. 

Theophania's  husband  held  one  of  the  highest  ofllces 
at  the  court  of  Mohlavia.  He  was  wont  to  date  his  days 
of  repose  from  those  of  my  attentions  to  his  wife.  He 
could  have  raised  a  statue  to  my  merits  from  sheer  gi-ati- 
tude,  were  statues  ever  raised  in  modern  times  from  such 
an  antiquated  motive.  All  he  prayed  for  was  the  per- 
mission to  keep  his  eyes  shut.  This  was  precisely  what 
my  little  friend  would  not  grant.  Qualified  for  the  task 
she  undertook  by  my  former  confidence,  she  kindly  forced 
upon  him  such  irrefragable  proofs  of  his  wife's  imprudence, 
as  permitted  him  no  longer  to  be  blind  to  her  conduct, 
o  3 


58  ANASTASIUS. 

I  was  so  accustomed  always  to  be  the  last  in  my  appoint- 
ments with  Theophania,  tliat  one  day  in  the  verdant  valley 
of  Kiad-hane,*  the  favourite  haunt  of  the  Cupids  of  Con- 
stantinople, I  felt  rather  nettled  at  finding  myself,  though 
much  after  my  time,  the  first  at  the  place  of  rendezvous. 
Still  I  waited,  and  waited  on ;  until  impatience  began  to 
fan  my  languid  flame ;  and  Theophania's  star  began  to 
mount.  Alas  !  while  I  was  trying  to  cool  my  ardour  by 
contemplating  from  the  Keoschk  the  fleeting  stream  in 
which  the  weeping-willow  was  gently  dipping  its  deli- 
cate spray,  as  if  striving  to  steal  a  last  parturg  caress 
from  the  waves  that  fled  its  embrace,  little  did  I  imagine 
that  the  proud  Theophania  was  jogging  along  in  a  rum- 
bling kotshi — screaming  until  she  was  able  to  scream  no 
longer — to  the  borders  of  the  Black  Sea ;  thence  to  be 
conveyed  in  an  open  boat — much  too  sick  with  the  mo- 
tion even  to  scold — to  the  port  of  Galatsch,  where  a  stout 
mule  waited  to  carry  her,  bumpii^g  in  a  basket,  to  the 
presence  of  her  loving  husband !  he  gave  her  a  tender 
embrace ;  assured  lier  she  had  a  decided  vocation  for  the 
monastic  life ;  and,  accordingly,  w  liisked  her  ofl'  the  next 
morning  to  the  most  secluded  convent  in  the  province  of 
Valachia ;  where,  I  understand,  she  has  contii.ued  ever 
since  ;  fasting,  praying,  and  scolding  by  turns.  As  soon 
as  I  had  heard  of  her  adventure,  1  went  and  thanked  my 
little  friend  for  the  service  she  h;ul  unintentionally  ren- 
dered me. 

My  own  day  of  retribution  from  the  hands  of  my  mas- 
ter was  approaching.  Neither  my  aff'air  with  Theopha- 
nia, nor  even,  I  believe,  my  daily  neglect  of  my  ofRcial 
duties  was  the  cause  of  my  disgrace.  It  was  the  cloud, 
the  fatal  cloud,  whicli  I  could  not  see,  when  the  bos- 
landgee-bashee  passed  by  Therapia ;  but  which  nothing 
could  dispel  from  madame's  angered  mind  except  my 
dismission.  Her  husband  would  have  preferred  to  have 
kept  me  ;  but  among  tlie  tongues  he  commanded,  that  of 
his  wife  had  never  been  numbered  in  the  family.  He 
neither  could  stop  it,  nor  yet  had  acquired  the  facility  of 
listening  to  its  explosions,  as  to  the  softer  murmur  of  a 
mill.  He  therefore  might  rule  in  great  affairs  abroad, 
but  alv/ays  ended  by  obeying  in  little  matters  at  home  : 
content  to  save  his  credit,  by  pretending  to  do  from  choice 
what  he  did  from  necessity. 

*  Kiad-hanft— beautiful  promenade  near  Constantinople,  called  by  the  Franks 
Lea  Faux  douces. 


ANASTASItJS.  59 

One  evening,  after  having  repeated  my  frequently  par- 
doned error  of  staying  out  the  whole  day,  I  was,  on  com- 
ing home,  disappointed  of  the  lecture  I  expected  at  my 
master's  hands.  Instead  of  blustering,  as  usual,  Mavro- 
yeni  asked  what  had  detained  me,  in  the  most  placid  tone 
imaginable.  I  now  gave  myself  up  for  lost.  It  was  pre- 
cisely the  tone  which  the  drogueman  was  wont  to  assume, 
when,  fully  resolved  to  have  no  further  dealings  with  the 
person  who  had  offended  him,  he  deemed  reproach  a  use- 
less waste  of  breath.  I  however  made  out  a  little  story, 
which  Mavroyeni  listened  to  very  patiently ;  and  then 
pointing  to  the  door,  desired  me  to  walk  out,  and  never  to 
walk  in  again. 

I  knew  him  too  well  to  have  the  least  hopes  of  his 
recalling  a  sentence  uttered  in  this  manner.  My  only 
remaining  solicitude,  therefore,  Avas  to  make  a  dignified 
retreat.  After  a  profound  bow — of  defiance  rather  than 
of  respect — I  strutted  away,  carrying  my  head  so  high 
that  I  knocked  it  against  the  sofite  of  the  door. 

But  in  spite  of  my  seeming  indifference  I  felt  injured, 
if  not  degraded ;  for  in  surveying  my  conduct,  I  only  took 
into  account  the  last  drop  that  rose  above  the  brim ;  the 
rest  was  hid  within  the  vessel. 

I  need  not  observe,  that  what  to  me  appeared  the  heiglit 
of  injustice  was  deemed  by  the  remainder  of  the  family 
only  a  tardy  and  inadequate  act  of  equity.  Such  as  it 
was,  however,  it  caused  great  jubilation ;  and  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  the  whole  Fanar  was  informed  of  the 
secretarj''s  disgrace  : — only  it  was  ascribed  to  my  having, 
with  a  pistol  in  one  hand  and  a  sword  in  the  other,  made 
such  proposals  to  madame  la  droguemane,  as  she  couM 
not  possibly  listen  to — from  her  husband's  clerk. 

Eaves-dropping  never  was  among  my  fancies.  Nor 
was  I  fond  enough  of  puzzles  to  put  together  broken 
sentences,  which  in  general  may  be  made  to  bear  any  sig- 
nification ;  but  one's  own  name  is  a  great  stumblingblock 
in  the  way  of  one's  discretion  :  and  when,  crossing  a  dark 
passage  as  I  went  out  of  the  house,  I  heard  mine  pro- 
nounced with  great  vehemence,  the  sound  acted  like  a 
talisman.  It  riveted  me  to  the  spot.  I  stopped  to  hear 
my  panegyric.  All  I  could  collect,  however,  was  only 
that,  most  abundantly  hated,  while  in  the  fresh  zeal  of  my 
service  I  chose  to  perform  more  than  was  set  down  for 
me,  and  to  do  beiter  than  others,  I  had  since  retrieved  my 
character  in  the  family,  by  mendi)ig  my  ways  and  neg- 


60  ANASTA8IUS. 

lecting  my  business.  On  that  account  I  now  carried 
away  a  certain  portion  of  good-will.  The  party  present 
regretted  my  fall ;  but  the  chief  orator  consoled  himself 
by  thinking  me  such  a  daring  and  dexterous  fellow,  that, 
happen  what  might,  I  was  always  sure  to  come  down 
upon  my  legs. 
"  Amen !"  cried  I,  walking  out,  "  I  accept  the  omen ' 


CHAPTER  V. 

As  the  night  was  already  far  advanced,  I  went,  until 
the  next  morning,  to  one  of  those  temples  of  hospitality 
which  are  never  shut  against  a  stranger  who  sues  for  ad- 
mission with  a  silver  tongue.  It  was  sheer  churlishness 
in  me,  no  doubt,  to  defer  for  so  many  hours  affording  my 
numerous  friends  the  constantly  wished-for  opportunity 
of  testifying  the  sincerity  of  their  regard.  As  soon,  ho\v- 
ever,  as  the  sun  had  risen  high  enough  to  shine  upon  their 
munificence,  1  determined  no  longer  to  delay  their  hap- 
piness. I  even  resolved,  in  order  that  none  should  com- 
plain of  being  omitted,  to  begin  my  visits  methodically  at 
one  end  of  the  Fanar,  and  not  to  leave  off  till  I  had  reached 
the  other  extremity.  In  the  course  of  this  experimental 
round,  I  found  the  warmth  of  my  well-wishers  precisely 
in  an  inverse  ratio  to  their  means.  The  higher  classes 
made  it  a  matter  of  conscience  not  to  receive  a  servant 
discarded  by  his  master.  Those  of  a  lower  degree  ex- 
pressed their  willingness  to  continue  my  friends  as  long 
as  I  had  a  piastre  left :  only  reser\'ing  to  themselves  the 
privilege  of  dropping  me,  the  moment  their  poor  assistance 
became  desirable.  Nothing,  however,  stopped  me  in  my 
circuit,  until  I  had  knocked  at  the  farthest  door  in  the 
district : — for  I  still  bore  in  mind  the  last  words  I  had 
heard  under  my  master's  roof,  and  wished  to  preserve  an 
authentic  record  of  my  obligations  to  each  of  my  friends. 
When  no  one  remained  to  apply  to,  I  cast  u[)  the  sum 
total,  and  finding  it  a  cipher,  wished  them  all  at  the  devil, 
and  crossed  over  to  Galata.* 

I  here  got  for  my  money  a  new  set  of  cronies: — jolly 

*  Galata — suburb  divided  from  Constantinople  by  the  harbour ;  and  occupy 
ing  the  base  of  the  bill  of  which  Pera  crowns  the  summit. 


ANASTASIUS.  61 

souls,  who,  not  possessing  a  para*  of  their  own  in  the 
world,  never  inquired  what  others  were  worth,  but  lived 
from  hand  to  mouth,  banished  care,  and  set  melancholy 
at  defiance.  They  initiated  me  into  a  lower  and  more 
riotous  species  of  intemperance  than  the  decorum  of  my 
former  situation  had  admitted.  Every  day  we  met  in 
some  of  the  taverns  of  the  neighbourhood,  wliere  my  new 
friends  contributed  their  share  of  the  entertainment  in 
sallies  at  the  expense  of  my  old  ones ;  and  I  in  ready 
cash.  It  was  quite  consoling  to  hear  how  they  pitied  the 
drogueman  for  losing  such  a  treasure  as  me  ;  how  they 
laughed  at  my  wit  even  before  I  spoke,  and  how  they 
drank  every  instant  to  my  health  and  the  success  of  my 
schemes.  No  day  passed  without  a  party  of  pleasure 
being  proposed,  for  the  sole  pui^pose  of  keeping  up  my 
spirits.  And,  lest  I  should  not  be  aware  how  entirely 
they  aU  joined  in  it  for  my  sake,  no  one  ever  ventured  to 
inquire  the  cost.  Indeed,  so  far  from  presuming  to 
offend  my  delicacy  by  requesting  to  share  in  the  expense, 
they  thought  it  a  proper  compliment  to  my  liberality  to 
bonow  from  me  whatever  money  they  wanted.  Not  for 
the  world  would  they  give  another  the  preference  ! 

As  soon  as  my  finances  were  exhausted,  my  com- 
panions of  course  disappeared ;  not,  however — to  do  them 
justice — from  choice,  but  from  sheer  necessity,  and 
because,  having  been  entirely  supported  by  me,  they  had 
now  to  shift  for  themselves.  When  my  embarrassment 
became  known,  one  person  only  came  forward  to  relieve 
me,  and  that  a  female  too — and  one  who  had  not  much 
reason  to  be  pleased  with  my  proceedings — the  little 
grocer's  wife,  whose  figs  and  raisins  I  had  disdained. 
Hearing  an  exaggerated  account  of  my  distress,  and 
thinking  me  absolutely  starving,  she  trundled  away  with 
all  her  pristine  affection  still  at  the  heart,  and  a  large  pot 
of  marmalade  under  each  arm.  These,  and  all  else  her 
shop  contained,  she  pressed  me  to  dispose  of.  Too  proud 
to  owe  to  charity  what  I  could  not  earn  by  love,  I  pointed 
to  my  dress,  whidi  had  cost  a  great  deal,  and  still  was 
worth  a  few  sequins  even  to  an  old  clothesman,  and 
begged  she  would  not  urge  me.  "  I  will  not  receive," 
cried  I,  "  where  I  can  make  no  return ;  but  when  you 
thought  I  wanted  bread,  you  brought  me  conserve  of 
roses ;  and  if  any  fresh  ones  ever  strew  my  path,  the 

*  Para — a  small  Turkish  coin. 


62  ANAStASltrS. 

deed  shall  be  found  recorded  in  the  very  kernel  of  my 
heart !" 

Without  leaving  the  poor  little  woman  time  to  answer, 
I  ran  off  to  the  only  one  of  my  dispersed  associates  whom 
I  knew  where  to  find.  I  wanted  his  advice ;  and  felt  sure 
he  would  not  refuse  what  those  who  would  give  nothing 
else  are  often  the  most  profuse  in. 

An  ascent  of  about  fifty  steps  brought  me  to  his  exalted 
abode.  Its  tenant  might  truly  be  said  to  look  down  upon 
the  world.  .lust  at  midday  Signer  Vasili  was  awaking 
from  his  night's  repose.  On  entering  his  aerial  apartment, 
I  still  found  him  sprawling  on  his  couth — stretching  one 
arm,  putting  one  leg  to  the  ground,  rubbing  his  eyes,  and 
giving  such  a  yawn,  that  I  thought  he  would  have  swal- 
lowed at  ieast  half  Constantinople,  spread  out  before 
him.  At  my  unlooked-for  visit  he  stared,  shook  himself, 
as  if  to  be  certain  he  w?s  not  dreaming,  and  disposed  his 
ears  in  silence  to  listen  to  my  story. 

"  I  cajne,"  1  said,  "  to  ask  how  people  live  who  have 
notjhe  usual  and  ostensible  means  of  subsistence?" 
This  VasUi  had  done  so  long,  that  it  never  struck  him  it 
could  puzzle  anybody.  He,  therefore,  still  continued 
some  time  staring  at  me  in  utter  silence  as  before,  in  order 
to  collect  his  thoughts.  At  last,  jumping  up  in  such  a 
fury  as  almost  to  startle  me,  he  seized  hold  of  my  arm, 
and  led  me  lo  the  window.  The  prospect  from  it  ex- 
tended over  the  immense  city  of  Starnbool  unto  its  utmost 
boundaries,  and  showed  the  inside  like  a  prodigious  ant's 
nest,  where,  far  below  the  eye,  myriads  of  little  insects 
were  bestirring  themselves,  crossing  and  jostling  each 
other,  and  running  backward  and  forward  in  every  direc- 
tion. 1  praised  the  view,  said  it  was  undoubtedly  de- 
lightful to  the  eye,  but  still  I  could  not  see  how  it  was  to 
feed  an  empty  stomach.  "  It  may  teach  you  to  fill  it 
with  something  else  though,"  cried  my  friend  Vasili; 
now  for  tlie  first  time  breaking  his  long-protracted 
silence.  "Of  tlie  thousands  you  behold  in  those  streets, 
on  those  quays,  in  those  boats,  on  the  land,  and  on  the 
water,  one-half  scarce  knew  this  morning  how  to  get  a 
meal  at  noon,  and  a  place  of  rest  at  ni^t ;  j'-et  I  will  en- 
gage, that  every  blockheiid  of  them  at  this  time  has 
broken  his  fast,  nnd  will  find  a  hole  to  sleep  in!  Why, 
therefore,  should  you  fail,  but  from  possessing  too 
transcendent  abilities?  Oidy  scare  not  away  your  in- 
vention   by  your  fears;    and,  depend    upon    it,  some 


ANASTASIUS.  63 

means  of  livelihood  will  present  itself!  However,  what 
leisure  I  can  give  to  help  it  forward  I  shall  willingly 
bestow." 

So  saying,  Vasili  thrust  his  hand  into  his  pocket,  and 
hauled  forth  a  heap  of  the  smallest  coin  of  the  realm. 
This  treasure  he  poured  on  the  sofa,  and  divided  into 
three  equal  parts.  Then,  laying  his  finger  on  each  in 
succession,  "  The  first,"  said  he,  "  we  will  drink  together 
this  morning,  in  order  to  whet  our  invention ;  the  next  I 
reserve  for  my  own  wants  to-morrow  ;  the  third  is  yours, 
until  you  find  it  particularly  convenient  to  repay  me. 
Your  brain  thus  will  have  an  entire  holyday,  before  you 
need  call  upon  your  wits  for  your  livelihood ;  and  when 
you  thus  are  upon  a  par  with  myself,  the  deuse  is  in  it 
if  you  cannot  do  as  well !" 

I  thanked  my  generous  friend  :  but  just  as  we  sallied 
forth  to  fulfil  the  first  article  of  this  partition  treaty,  he 
cast  his  eye  upon  my  attire.  It  was  no  longer  the 
flowing  robe  of  the  Kanar — the  anteree*  of  state :  I  had 
exchanged  that  for  the  more  dashing  short  dress  of  my 
last  intimates.  A  rich  embroidery  covered  the  seams, 
and  a  costly  velvet  formed  the  groundwork.  "  I  am 
thinking,"  said  Vasili,  "  that  your  present  wardrobe  iU 
suits  your  purpose.  Who  can  fancy  a  purse,  stiff  with 
gold  outside,  to  be  empty  within  1  Supposing,  therefore, 
on  this  occasion  we  give  business  precedence  over  plea- 
sure, and,  reversing  the  dreams  of  the  alchy mists,  change 
gold  into  baser  substances.  We  may  afterward  adjourn 
to  a  tavern  to  drink  success  to  your  metamorphosis.  The 
showiest  caterpillar,  you  know,  must  become  a  chrysalis 
ere  it  can  soar  a  butterfly." 

I  could  have  dispensed  with  the  chrysalis  state :  for 
though  poor  I  still  liked  to  look  well ;  but  I  yielded  to 
my  friend's  arguments,  and  hied  with  him  to  Sultan- 
bayezid,t  to  change  the  outward  man.  While  we  were 
looking  for  something  suitable  to  our  purpose,  in  stepped 
a  worthy  Israelite,  who  came,  like  ourselves,  not  to  sell, 
but  to  buy.  A  still  decent  beneesh — but  of  a  dusky  hue 
— hid  under  a  heap  of  gaudier  dresses,  seemed  to  catch 
his  fancy;  which  the  salesman  no  sooner  perceived  than 
all  the  powers  of  his  oratory  were  summoned  to  extol 
the  article  in  question.     He  had  better  have  been  modest 

*  The  anteree— part  of  the  long  dress  of  men  of  sedentarj'  professions, 
t  Sultan-bayezirt — one  of  the  imperial  mosques  at  Constantinople,  near 
which  is  held  the  market  of  second-hand  apparel. 


64  ANASTASIUS. 

about  it.  The  Jew — both  by  nature  and  by  cultivation 
an  adept  in  the  business — now  put  upon  his  mettle,  at 
once  bejran  to  pour  sucli  a  torrent  of  profound  observa- 
tions on  the  art  of  old-clothes  dealing,  that  the  seller  was 
glad  at  last  to  give  hiin  the  cloak  for  nothing,  ere  he 
let  all  the  by-standers  into  eveiy  deepest  mystery  of  the 
trade. 

In  truth  it  was  diamond  cutting  diamond.  The  Hebrew 
himself  had  long  professed,  in  the  elegant  quarter  of 
Hash-keui,*  the  noble  trade  of  old-clothesman,  until 
bankruptcy  forced  him  to  quit  his  district  and  his  profes- 
sion. Havitig  early  in  life  served  an  Esculapius  of  his 
own  nation,  with  whom  he  learned  a  few  terms  of  medicine, 
he  now  resolved  to  turn  pliysician  himself.  The  thing 
was  easy  enough  at  Constantinople,  where  a  man  need 
only  stalk  about  in  a  furred  capf  and  a  dark-coloured 
gown,  followed  by  an  attendant  wi'h  a  small  square 
chest,  to  have  all  the  men  hold  out  their  wrists,  and 
all  the  women  put  out  their  tongues  to  liim — in  con- 
sultation. 

The  cap  had  already  been  provided.  The  beneesh 
was  immediately  put  on,  and  the  very  attendant  chosen 
in  petto.  For  to  the  hawk's  eye  of  my  Israelite  my 
anxious  look  at  once  bespoke  me  the  very  tiling  he 
wanted.  Calling  me  aside,  he  made  the  proposal  without 
much  ceremony.  I  was  ostensibly  to  be  his  servant,  but 
in  reality  his  partner.  Even  that  clause,  however,  could 
not  sweeten  the  nauseous  draught.  I  felt  so  indignant  at 
being  proposed  to  for  an  apothecar\-'s  apprentice,  that, 
without  making  any  answer,  I  went  and  imparted  the  imper- 
tinent offer  to  my  friend  Vasili.  But  in  that  quarter  1  found 
little  sympathy.  "  See,"  said  he,  laughing,  "  how  fortune 
throws  herself  into  your  way.  I  wisli  you  joy  of  your 
good  luck."  This  speech  I  was  willing  to  take  as  a 
joke,  but  I  found  it  to  be  serious ;  and,  more  incensed 
than  before,  "  Sooner,"  I  cried,  "  if  all  other  trades  fail, 
would  I,  in  one  of  those  coarse  and  dingy  lahsej  jackets 
there,  work  for  my  bread  in  the  fields  !  The  earth  cannot 
degrade  its  children,  and  no  one  requires  a  character  to 
plough  the  ground."  "  True,"  replied  Vasili ;  "  but  one 
may  require  a  constitution,  though;  and  who  in  their 

*  Hash-keui — suburb  of  Constantinople,  where  the  Jews  live. 

t  Furred  cap— which  the  ilroguerncn  wear  when  in  fiocchi,  and  the  phy- 
sicians at  all  times. 

X  Lahse  jacket— the  I,ahseH,  or  inhabitants  of  the  northern  shores  of  Asia 
Minor  are  chiefly  employed  at  Constantinople  in  garden  work. 


ANASTASIUS.  65 

senses,  pray,  would  take  such  a  spindle-shanked  fellow 
as  you  are  just  now,  Avith  a  face  as  pale  as  a  turnip 
already,  and  an  eye,  round  which  '  rake'  is  written  in 
most  legible  black  letters,  to  dig  his  garden  for  him? 
Ere  you  had  half  done,  he  would  expect  to  have  your 
own  grave  to  dig!  For  my  part,  I  would  try  what 
requires  neither  stock,  nor  capital,  nor  labour,  nor  even 
science  as  I  take  it,  nor  any  thing  but  the  impudence  of 
which  you  possess  a  sufficient  stock ;  were  it  only  for  the 
fun,  and  to  see  what  no  one  but  a  physician  ever  sees. 
For,  more  potent  even  than  gold,  medicine  will  let  you 
into  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  harem;  and  who  can 
tell  but,  like  our  friend  Lorenzo,*  you  may  feel  sultanas' 
pulses." 

This  was  setting  the  masquerade  in  its  most  tempting 
light.  It  tickled  my  fancy;  and  I  struck  the  bargain 
with  the  Jew.  He  was  to  carry  his  own  Galen,  in  the 
shape  of  the  best  half  of  an  old  missal,  stolen  from  a 
Capuchin;  I  undertook  the  medicine-chest,  with  all  its 
pills  of  starch,  and  all  its  powders  of  pipe-clay.  The 
only  thing  I  insisted  upon  as  a  sine  qua  non  in  the  treaty 
was,  not  to  appear  in  my  new  character  in  any  of  the 
streets  I  had  before  frequented ;  and  to  this  ultimatum 
the  Jew  readily  enough  agreed.  Matters  thus  settled 
between  us,  I  somewhat  dolefully  exchanged  my  gaudy 
apparel  for  a  dress  in  unison  with  that  of  my  principal ; 
and,  after  vainly  begging,  in  gratitude  for  my  friend 
Vasili's  advice,  to  have  the  honour  of  making  upon  him 
my  first  experiment  in  this  new  profession,  walked  away 
with  my  grotesque  patron. 

Immediately  we  began  stalking  through  all  the  lanes 
and  by-streets  of  the  capital;  I,  with  a  pace  exactly 
regulated  by  that  of  my  master,  who  walked  before  me, 
and  both  of  us  turning  our  heads  constantly  from  right 
to  left  and  from  left  to  right,  like  weathercocks,  to  watch 
every  call  from  a  door  or  signal  from  a  window ;  but  fuU 
as  much  on  the  alert  to  avoid  old  faces  as  to  court  the 
notice  of  new  ones.  Now  and  then,  when  we  had  time 
for  idle  chat,  I  used  to  advise  Yacoob— that  was  my 
principal's  name— to  provide  himself  with  a  proper  license 
for  killing  the  grand  signor's  subjects,  in  the  shape  of  a 
diploma  from  the  hekim-bashee.f  He  denied  not  the 
expediency  of  the  measure,  but  he  always  fomid  some 

*  Lorenzo— namely,  Nucciolo,  a  Raguseen,  physician  to  Abd-col-Hameed, 
t  Hekim-bashee— chief  of  the  college  of  physicians. 


66  ANASTASrUS. 

pretence  for  delaying  the  performance.  At  first  his 
poverty  prevented  the  purchase;  afterward  the  pressure 
of  business;  and  so  long  did  we  go  on,  without  any 
inconvenience  from  the  neglect  of  the  said  formality, 
that  at  last  we  began  to  think  we  never  should  feel  the 
want  of  it,  and  totally  forgot  there  was  such  a  person  as 
a  hekim-bashee. 

Ours  was  an  off-hand  method  of  practice.  As  all 
cases  were  pretty  much  alike  to  our  skill,  a  single  feel  of 
the  pulse  generally  decided  the  most  difficult  treatments. 
Our  patients: — chiefly  of  the  industrious  class — could  not 
afford  long  illnesses  ;  and  these  we  certainly  prevented. 
What  most  annoyed  us  was  the  headstrong  obstinacy  of 
some  individuals,  who  sometimes  insisted  they  still  felt 
disordered,  when  we  positively  assured  them  they  were 
cured.  Had  they  been  killed  instead,  they  would  not 
have  complained !  Still  more  disagreet  ble  incidents  now 
and  then  occurred.  Called  in  one  day  to  a  woman  in 
convulsions,  Yacoob,  I  know  not  why,  prescribed  a 
remedy  which  the  Turks  regard  as  an  insult.  In  her 
rage,  the  Avoman  flew  at  him,  and  bit  off  half  his  ear.  It 
was  ail  I  could  do  to  save  the  other  half.  Another  day  (a 
Mohammedan  festival)  a  set  of  merrimaking  Osman- 
lees  insisted  on  Yacoob's  putting  on  a  European  dress, 
which  they  carried  about  on  a  pole,  that  they  might 
kick  him  through  the  stieets  as  a  Frank  ;  and  though 
he  actually  refused  a  fee  for  gratifying  their  whim, 
he  nevertheless  was  made  to  go  through  the  whole 
ceremony. 

I  remember  a  quieter  but  more  impressive  scene. 
One  evening,  as  we  were  returning  from  the  Blac- 
quernes,*  an  old  woman  threw  herself  in  our  way,  and 
taking  hold  of  my  mastei's  garment,  dragged  him  almost 
by  main  force  after  her  into  a  mean-looking  habitation 
just  by,  where  lay  on  a  couch,  apparently  at  the  last 
gasp,  a  man  of  foreign  features.  "I  have  brought  a 
physician,"  said  the  female  to  the  patient,  "  who,  perhaps, 
may  relieve  yon."  "  Why  will  you,"— answered  he 
faintly,— "  still  persist  to  feed  idle  hopes?  I  have  lived 
an  outcast:  suffer  me  at  least  to  die  in  peace;  nor  dis- 
turb my  last  moments  by  vaiji  illusions  ]  My  soul  pants 
to  rejoin  the  supreme  spirit ;  arrest  not  its  joys :  it  would 
only  be  delaying  my  eternal  bliss !"    As  he  spoke  these 

*  Blacqufrnes— a  remote  distrii-t  of  f'onstantino;;le, 


ANASTASIUS.  67 

words — which  even  struck  Yacoob  sufficiently  to  make 
him  suspend  his  professional  grimace — the  last  beams 
of  the  setting  sun  darted  across  the  casement  of  the 
window  upon  his  pale  yet  swarthy  features.  Thus 
visited,  he  seemed  for  a  moment  to  revive.  "  I  have 
always,"  said  he,  "considered  my  fate  as  connected 
with  the  great  luminary  that  rules  the  creation.  I  have 
always  paid  it  due  worship,  and  firmly  believed  I  could 
not  breathe  my  last  while  its  rays  shone  upon  me. 
Therefore  carry  me  out,  that  I  may  take  my  last  farewell 
of  the  heavenly  ruler  of  my  earthly  destinies  !" 

We  all  rushed  forward  to  obey  the  mandate.  But  the 
stairs  being  too  narrow,  the  woman  only  opened  the 
window,  and  placed  the  dying  man  before  it,  so  as  to 
enjoy  the  full  view  of  the  glorious  orb,  just  in  the  act 
of  dropping  beneath  the  horizon.  He  remained  a  few 
moments  in  silent  adoration ;  and  when  its  golden  disk 
had  entirely  disappeared,  we  looked  round  at  the  Parsee. 
He  too  had  sunk  into  everlasting  rest ! 

Our  easy  successes  among  the  lower  orders  by  degrees 
made  us  aspire  at  higlier  patients.  We  took  to  attending 
the  poor  gratis,  in  order  to  appear  qualified  to  try  the 
constitutions  of  the  rich;  and  by  appearing  to  have 
respectable  customers,  we  got  them.  A  beglier-bey* 
of  Roumili — the  great-grandson  of  a  sultan  on  the 
mother's  side  (for  on  the  father's,  such  filiations  are 
stifled  in  the  birth) — was  passing  through  Constantinople. 
One  of  his  Armenian  grooms  chose  to  thank  Yacoob  for 
having  been  relieved  by  nature  from  a  troublesome  quinsy, 
and  recommended  him  to  his  master's  kehaya.  The 
kehaya  also — in  spite  of  Yacoob's  attendance — got  the 
better  of  his  rheumatism,  and  praised  us  to  the  head 
eunuch.  The  head  eunuch,  left  by  us  as  we  found  him, 
spoke  of  us  in  high  terms  to  his  master;  and  the  vizier, 
on  being  seized  with  an  indigestion  for  which  he  had 
laboured  very  hard,  himself  condescended  to  send  for  us 
to  advise  him.  He,  however,  determined  to  have  two 
strings  to  his  bow,  and  to  consult  the  stars  as  well  as  the 
faculty:  so  that  my  master  found  himself  pitted  against 
a  moonedjim,t  who  recommended  an  emetic,  wliile 
Yacoob  insisted  on  a  contrary  remedy.  The  vizier 
determined  to  be  right,  slily  took  both,  thinking  thus 

*  A  beglier-bey— or  bey  of  beys  ;  title  given  to  the  pashas  of  Koumili  and  of 
Anadoly. 
I  Moonedjim— astrologer 


68  ANASTASIUS. 

to  make  the  opposite  opinions  meet.  The  medicines 
certainly  did ;  and  by  their  conflict  kept  us  for  a  while 
in  as  violent  a  perspiration  as  the  pasha  himself.  As, 
however,  the  disorder  only  proceeded  from  too  free  an 
indulgence  of  a  good  appetite,  the  double  remedy,  though 
a  little  violent,  in  the  end  proved  beneficial;  and  after 
suffering  a  few  sympathetic  pangs,  we  ultimately  reaped 
both  reputation  and  profit  from  our  treatment  of  this 
three-tailed  patient. 

Thus  we  were  enabled  to  quit  our  itinerant  mode  of 
life,  and  to  set  up  near  the  Backtche-capoossee*  a  shop 
of  decent  appearance,  furnished  with  jars  and  phials  of 
all  sorts  and  sizes.  These  we  inscribed  with  the  names 
of  the  most  costly  medicines,  while  the  inside  bore 
witness  to  their  rarity.  Instead  of  going  in  pursuit  of 
patients,  we  now  waited  till  they  came  or  sent.  In  the 
course  of  his  practice  my  principal  had  discovered  that, 
if  some  ailments  will  only  obey  a  face  furrowed  with 
age,  youth  and  freshness  best  dispel  certain  others ;  and 
these  he  left  to  my  sole  management. 

Our  vizier  (he  was  ours,  body  and  soul)  had  his  two 
regular  wives — fixtures  in  the  capital.  But  to  his  home 
establishment  he  added  a  lighter  travelling  equipage  of 
half  a  dozen  slaves,  Circassians  and  others.  Among  this 
latter  tnjop,  the  stag-eyed  Fathme  shone  like  the  full 
moon  among  the  stars.  Besides  her  patron  of  eighty  or 
thereabouts,  this  fair  one  boasted  two  other  equally  stren- 
uous admirers:  the  black  eunuch  who  guarded  the  ha- 
rem, and  the  old  governess  who  kept  its  contents  in  order. 
These  two  personages  used  to  devote  half  their  time  to 
the  cares  of  their  own  persons,  and  the  other  half  to 
watching  that  of  their  rival.  Both  having  intrusted  us 
with  their  health,  each  took  an  opportunity  of  hinting  how 
agreeable  I  might  make  myself,  by  putting  that  of  the 
other  beyond  the  reach  of  contingencies.  It  was  a  glo- 
rious hint !  Without  going  the  whole  length  of  the  modest 
request,  I  might  contrive  to  keep  Signor  Suleiman  and 
8ignora  Zelidjih  confined  to  their  beds,  wliile  I  made  my 
inquiries  after  the  health  of  their  prisoners ;  but  unlooked- 
for  incidents  marred  this  bright  scheme. 

Disappointed  at  Yacoob's  not  being  able  to  restore  him 
at  fourscore  to  the  vigour  of  forty,  the  vizier  had,  unknown 
to  my  master,  called  in  a  new  ally ;  the  very  person  whose 

*  Backtch^capoossee— the  garden  gate:  on<!  of  tbe  gates  of  Constantinople 


ANA3TASIUS.  69 

Ijmx  eye  Yacoob  dreaded  more  than  the  spectacles  of  all 
the  imperial  moonedjims  put  together,  namely,  the  chief 
physician  of  the  seraglio.  No  wonder  that  on  beholding 
the  crabbed  visage  of  this  crusty  Triestene  the  first  thing 
one  morning,  as  he  came  triumphantly  with  a  phial  of 
soap-suds  and  cinnamon,  which  he  swore  would  renovate 
the  last  defunct  mufty  himself,  poor  Yacoob  should  have 
looked  as  if  he  saw  the  Medusa.  He  however  had  pres- 
ence of  mind  enough  to  dash  the  phial  to  pieces,  and 
then  to  be  in  despair  at  the  accident.  It  gave  him,  in  the 
pretence  of  running  home  to  repair  the  loss,  a  decent  op- 
portunity of  making  his  retreat,  with  the  full  determina- 
tion never  more  to  go  near  the  pasha's  door.  This  availed 
him  little.  The  old  devil  of  a  Triestene,  who  at  his  exit 
sent  after  him  the  ugliest  giin  I  ever  beheld,  had  our 
characters  inquired  into ;  and,  satisfied  that  we  practised 
imlawfully,  denounced  our  doings  to  the  president  of  the 
killing  college.  The  vizier,  the  more  incensed  at  being 
duped,  from  the  pleasure  he  promised  himself  in  bringing 
together  two  such  eminent  men  as  the  Hebrev  and  the 
Christian  doctors,  threw  in  his  weight  against  us,  and  the 
consequence  was,  our  being  sentenced  to  nn  exemplary 
punishment.  As  we  sat  brooding  over  the  misfortune  of 
the  pasha's  proving  less  a  fool  than  we  thought,  a  posse 
of  police  myrmidons  entered  to  ransack  our  shop,  and  to 
take  us  to  prison.  These  gentlemen,  however,  as  usual, 
began  their  official  functions  by  emptying  all  our  phials 
and  gallipots  into  their  stomachs.  This  proceeding  and 
its  consequences,  caused  us  a  short  respite. 

While  our  first  guardians  were  engaged,  a  new  set  was  to 
be  sent  for;  but  these  conveyed  us  without  furtlier  delay 
to  the  place  of  our  confinement.  The  very  hour  I  had 
destined  for  consoling  the  fair  Fathme  in  her  prison,  I  was 
ushered  into  that  of  the  Bagnio.* 

*  Bagnio— the  vast  cHclosure  near  the  arsenal  which  serves  as  a  priscni  to 
the  Christian  captives,  and  the  Turkish  and  Rayah  criminals. 


70  ANASTASIU3. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  vast  and  high  enclosure  of  the  Bagnio,  situated 
contiguously  to  the  arsenal  and  the  docks,  contains  a  lit- 
tle world  of  its  own,  but  a  world  of  wailing !  One  part 
is  tenanted  by  the  prisoners  made  on  board  the  enemy's 
ships,  who,  with  an  iron  ring  round  their  legs,  await  in 
this  dismal  repository  their  transference  on  board  the 
Turkis'i  fleet.  This  part  may  only  be  called  a  sort  of 
purgatory.  The  other  is  hell  in  perfection.  It  is  the 
larger  division,  filled  with  the  natural  subjects  of  the 
grand  signor.  whom  their  real  or  supposed  misdemeanors 
have  brought  to  the  abode  of  unavailing  tears.  Here  are 
confined  alike  the  ragged  beggar  urged  by  famine  to  steal 
a  loaf,  and  the  rich  banker  iu^tigattd  by  avarice  to  deny 
a  deposit;  the  bandit  who  uses  open  violence,  and  the 
baker  who  emplo)'s  false  weiglits;  the  land  robber  and 
the  pirate  of  the  seas,  the  assassin  and  the  cheat.  Here, 
as  in  the  infernal  regions,  are  mingled  natives  of  every 
country — Turks,  Greeks,  Armenians,  .lews,  and  Gipsies; 
and  are  confounded  individuals  of  every  creed — the  Ma- 
hommedan,  liie  Christian,  the  Hebrew,  and  the  Heathen. 
Here  the  proud  and  the  humble,  the  opulent  and  the  ne- 
cessitous, are  reduced  to  the  direst  of  equalities,  the 
equality  of  torture.  But  I  err:  for  should  some  hapless 
victim — perhaps  guilty  of  no  otlier  crime  but  that  of  hav- 
ing excited  the  sultan's  cupidity, — still  wear  on  his  first 
entrance  the  livery  of  better  days,  his  more  decent  ap- 
pearance will  only  expose  hiin  to  harsher  treatment. 
Loaded  with  the  heaviest  fetters,  linked  to  the  most 
loathsome  of  malefactors,  he  is  compelled  to  purchase 
every  alleviation  of  his  burthen,  every  mitigation  of  his 
pain,  at  the  most  exorbitant  price  ;  until  the  total  exhaus- 
tion of  his  slender  store  has  acijuired  him  the  privilege 
of  being  at  least  on  a  level  wit'.i  llie  lowest  of  his  fellow- 
sufferers;  and  spared  additional  torments,  no  longer 
lucrative  to  their  inflictors. 

Every  ^^ay  a  capital  fertile  in  crimes  pours  new  offen- 
ders iii*o  this  dread  receptacle;  and  its  high  walls  and 
deep  r  ■  '  sses  resound  every  instant  with  imprecations  and 
curses',  uuered  ia  all  the  various  idioms  of  the  Othoman 


ANASTASIUS.  71 

empire.  Deep  moans  and  dismal  yells  leave  not  its  an- 
swering echoes  a  moment's  repose.  From  morning  until 
night,  and  from  night  until  morning,  the  ear  is  stunned 
with  the  clang  of  chains,  which  the  galloy-;;laves  drag 
about  while  confined  in  their  cells,  and  which  they  still 
drag  ab'Hit  when  toiling  at  their  tasks.  I  uiked  together 
two  and  two  for  life,  rhould  they  sink  under  their  suffer- 
ings, they  still  continue  thus  linked  after  the  death  of 
either ;  and  the  man  doomed  to  live  on  drags  alter  him 
the  corpse  of  his  dead  companion.  In  no  direction  can 
the  eye  escape  the  spectacle  of  atrocious  punishments 
and  of  indescribable  agonies.  Here  perhaps  you  see  a 
wretch,  whose  stiffened  limbs  refuse  their  office,  stop  sud- 
denly short  in  the  midst  of  his  labour,  and,  as  if  already 
impassible,  defy  the  stripes  that  lay  open  his  ilesh,  and 
wait  in  total  immobility  the  last  merciful  blow  that  is  to 
end  his  misery;  while,  there,  you  view  his  companion 
foaming  with  rage  and  madness,  turn  against  his  own 
person  liis  desperate  hands,  tear  his  clotted  hair,  rend  his 
bleeding  bosom,  and  dash  to  pieces  his  head  against  the 
wall  of  his  dungeon. 

A  long-unpunished  pirate,  a  liberated  galley-slave, 
Achmet-reis  by  name,  was  the  fiend  of  hell  who,  by  his 
ingenuity  in  contriving  new  tortures,  and  his  infernal  de- 
light in  i)eholding  new  sufferings,  had  de9er\ed  to  become 
the  chief  inspector  of  this  place,  and  the  chief  minister  of 
its  terrors.  His  joys  were  great,  but  they  were  not  yet 
complete.  Only  permitted  thus  far  to  exercise  his  craft 
on  mortals,  he  still  was  obliged  to  calculate  wh  t  degree 
of  agon}'  the  human  frame  could  bear,  and  to  proportion 
the  pain  lie  inflicted  to  the  powers  of  suffering  which  man 
possessed,  lest,  by  despatching  his  victims  too  soon,  he 
should  defeat  his  own  aim.  He  was  not  yet  received 
amon^-  his  brother  demons,  in  the  blissful  abodes  where 
torments  do  not  kill,  and  where  the  sufferer's  pangs  might 
be  increased  in  an  infinite  ratio. 

Of  this  truth  the  very  hour  of  my  arrival  had  afforded 
him  a  sorely  lamented  proof!  An  Armenian  cashier, 
suspected  of  withhotaing  from  the  sultan — sole  heir  to 
all  his  officers — the  deposite  of  a  deceased  pasha,  had  just 
been  delivered  over  into  Achmet's  hands ;  and  many  were 
the  days  of  bliss  to  which  tlie  executioner  looked  forward 
in  the^  diligent  performance  of  his  office.  On  ihe  first 
application  of  the  rack,  out  of  siieer  malice,  the  seraff 
expired  • 


73  ANASTASIUS. 

Two  days  later,  the  whole  of  Achmet's  prospects  of 
sublunary  happiness  were  near  coming  to  a  close.  Some 
"Wretches,  driven  by  his  cruelty  to  a  state  of  madness,  had 
sworn  his  destruction.  Their  hands,  tied  behind  their 
backs,  could  be  of  no  use  to  them  in  effecting  their  pur- 
pose. They  determined  to  crush  him  with  their  bodies. 
All  at  tlie  same  instant  fell  with  their  whole  weight  upon 
the  execctioner,  or  upon  their  own  companions  already 
pressing  to  the  ground  the  prostrate  monster,  in  hopes  of 
burying  his  corpse  under  a  living  tumulus.  But  Achmet's 
good  star  prevailed: — ere  yet  his  suffocation  was  com- 
pleted, soldiers  rescued  the  miscreant.  He  recovered,  to 
wreak  on  his  disappointed  enemies  his  fiercest  vengeance. 
Their  punishment  was  dreadful  I  Sanguinary,  but  not 
cruel,  prone  to  shed  blood  in  anger,  yet  shuddering  at 
torture,  I  was  horror-struck  at  the  scene,  and  the  yells  of 
the  victims  still  ring  in  my  ears. 

Characters  meet  aJ;  laige  in  the  Avorld  which  may 
almost  count  as  sure  their  meeting  again,  some  time  or 
other,  within  the  narrow  precincts  of  the  IBagnio.  Of  this 
species  was  the  captain  of  the  Maynote  pirates  who  took 
our  Venetian  cutter.  He  now  occupied  his  winter-quar- 
ters among  the  galley-slaves.  Though  I  had  had  but  little 
time  on  our  first  interview  to  cultivate  his  acquaintance, 
I  could  not  liejp  remembering  that,  from  the  moment  his 
tall  commanding  figure  rose  above  the  side  of  our  vessel, 
and  stepped  on  board,  my  stars  had  assumed  a  milder 
aspect,  and  my  situation  had  been  improved.  Each, 
therefore,  was  glad  of  the  rencontre;  each  expressed  his 
sincere  pleasure  at  meeting  the  other ;  each  politely  hoped 
the  othjr  might  be  destined  to  stay  a  good  while  in  the 
place. 

There  are  men  so  gifted,  as,  in  whatever  situation  fate 
may  place  ihem,  still  to  inspire  a  certain  awe  and  respect ; 
and  thougii  fallen  through  dint  of  adverse  circumstances 
into  the  most  abject  condition,  still  to  retain  over  all 
around  them  an  innate  superiority.  Of  this  sort  was 
Mackari.  He  had  been  one  of  the  chieftains  of  that  small 
tribe  of  mountaineers,  pent  up  in  the  peninsula  of  Mayno, 
who,  like  greater  nations,  claim  dominion  over  the  seas 
that  gird  their  native  rocks.  He  had  only  considered 
himself  as  acting  cwiformably  to  his  natural  right,  in 
capturing  the  vessels  that  trespassed  on  his  domain  with- 
out purchasing  his  permission;  and  in  his  conduct  hedia- 
cemed  neither  injustice  nor  treachery.    His  lofty  soul, 


ANASTASIUS.  73 

therefore,  still  preserved  all  its  dignity  amid  his  fallen 
fortunes.  Patient  under  every  insult,  unruffled  by  torture, 
he  was  never  he^frd  to  utter  a  sigh,  to  offer  a  remon- 
strance, or  to  beg  a  mitigation  of  his  sufferings.  Even 
when  his  keepers,  unable  to  wrest  from  his  scornful  lip 
the  smallest  acknowledgment  of  tlieir  ingenuity  in  tor- 
turing, began  to  doubt  their  own  powers,  and,  irritated  at 
his  very  forbearance,  resolved  to  conquer  by  a  last  and 
highest  outrage  his  immoveable  finimess;  when  with 
weights  and  pulleys  they  forced  down  to  the  ground  that 
countenance,  ^vhich,  serene  in  the  midst  of  suffering, 
seemed  only  fi*to  face  the  heavens ;  when  they  com- 
pelled him,  whose"  mental  independence  defied  all  their 
means  of  coercion,  constantly  to  behold  the  fetters  that 
contracted  his  body,  they  only  succeeded  to  depress  his 
earthly  frame  ;  they  were  not  able  to  lower  his  unbending 
spirit.  Still  calm,  still  serene  as  before,  he  only  smiled 
at  the  fresh  chains  with  which  he  Avas  loaded ;  and  at 
each  new  fetter  added  to  his  former  shackles,  his  mind 
only  seemed  to  take  a  loftier  flight. 

Yet,  impassible  as  he  appeared  to  his  own  woes,  was 
he  most  feelingly  alive  to  those  of  his  companions.  Of 
every  new  hardship  which  threatened  to  increase  their 
sufferings,  he  uniformly  stood  forward  to  court  the  prefer- 
ence ;  and  while  his  fortitude  awed  into  silence  the  use- 
less complaints  of  his  troop,  his  self-devotion  still  relieved 
its  real  misery.  One  day  Avhen  a  ferocious  soldier  was 
going  to  fell  with  his  club  the  comrade  of  Mackari's  fetters, 
whom  his  manacled  hands  could  not  save  from  the  blow, 
he  opposed  to  the  frightful  weapon  all  he  could  command 
— his  arm  ;  which,  broken  by  tlie  stroke,  fell  by  his  side 
a  wreck. 

Thus  did  the  Maynote  captain's  former  crew  still  view 
in  their  chief,  though  loaded  with  irons  like  themselves, 
not  only  the  master  to  whom  they  continued  to  pay  all 
the  obedience  the}'  could  show,  but  the  protector  on  whom 
they  depended  for  all  the  comfort  they  could  receive.  His 
very  keepers  were  unable  in  his  sight  to  shake  off  the 
awe  felt  by  all  who  approached  him.  They  confessed  by 
their  fears  their  notliingness  in  his  presence  ;  they  scarce 
could  derive  a  sufficient  sense  of  security  from  all  the 
fetters  which  they  had  heaped  upon  their  victim !  In 
vain  would  he  himself,  with  a  bitter  and  disdainful  smile, 
point  to  his  forlorn  state,  and  ask  what  they  apprehended 
from  one  on  whom  they  might  trample  with  impunity  ? 

Vol.  I.— D 


74  ANASTASIUS. 

The  mere  sound  of  his  voice  seemed  to  belie  his  words. 
It  was  the  roar  of  a  lion,  dreaded  even  when  emitted 
through  the  bars  of  his  cage.  And  when  with  shackles 
somewhat  loosened  in  order  to  perform  his  daily  labour, 
Mackari  was  enabled  to  raise  his  head  and  to  resume  his 
erect  posture, — when  his  majestic  forehead  shone  far 
above  the  brows  of  his  tallest  companions, — he  looked 
like  the  cedar  of  Lebanon,  which,  though  scathed  by  the 
lightning  from  heaven,  still  overtops  all  the  trees  of  the 
forest ;  and  the  wretches  to  whose  care  he  was  committed 
used  immediately  to  recede  to  a  fearful  distance. 

Unendowed  with  any  of  the  forbearance  of  the  Maynote 
chief,  I  had  scarce  been  an  hour  in  the  Bagnio  before  I 
began  to  measure  with  my  eye  the  height  of  its  walls,  to 
consider  the  strength  of  its  gates,  and  to  count  the  num- 
ber of  its  guards.  A  good-natured  fellow-sufferer,  who 
guessed  my  thoughts,  called  me  aside.  "  Take  care 
what  you  do,"  whispered  he ;  "  there  is  danger  even  in 
looking  at  these  walls.  The  mere  suspicion  of  a  plan  to 
escape  from  this  place  meets  with  the  severest  punish- 
ment ;  the  execution  is  impossible.  Should  you  have 
succeeded  so  far  as  to  clear  every  impediment,  every 
barrier,  ever>- sentinel, — should  you  have  reached  the  very 
heart  of  the  city, — should  you  in  its  seemingly  impene- 
trable vortex  think  yourself  most  secure  from  any  search, 
— }'0u  have  yet  achieved  nothing;  you  liave  not  advanced 
a  single  step  towards  your  liberation.  Many  inmates  of 
the  IJagnio,  possessing  families  in  the  city,  enjoy  unre- 
strained regress  on  the  express  condition  of  bringing 
back  the  missing,  or  of  taking  their  place.  The  most 
active  and  watchful  of  the  spies  they  employ  are  sta- 
tioned precisely  wherever  the  security  from  discovery 
seems  the  greatest;  and  the  sufferings  of  those  whose 
attempts  at  evasion  have  been  baffled  by  their  vigilance 
are  so  cruelly  aggravated,  that  a  man  must  have  lust  all 
hope  of  any  otlier  deliverance  on  tliis  side  the  grave, 
ere  he  attempt  so  desperate  a  mode  of  regaining  his 
freedom." 

Not  such  was  my  case.  As  soon  as,  recovering  from 
my  first  dismay  I  had  begun  to  cast  my  eye  around,  it 
had  been  arrested  by  a  neat  little  spire  with  a  handsome 
gilded  top,  peeping  over  the  battlements  of  the  western 
enclosure,  and  which  somehow  struck  me  as  an  old  ac- 
quaintance. No  wonder  that  it  should;  it  crowned  tliat 
very  pavilion  of  the  arsenal  where  the  drogueman  held 


ANASTASirS.  75 

his  office,  where  sat  Mavroyeni,  where  I  myself  had  per- 
formed with  applause  my  first  part  on  the  stage  of"  the 
capital.  An  immediate  gleam  of  hope  beamed  from  its 
golden  ball  and  glanced  on  my  mind.  "  How  !"  thought 
I,  "  Mavroyeni,  my  old  master,  shall  spend  all  his  morn- 
ings within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  place  in  which  pines  his 
Anastasius  ;  shall  only  be  impeded  by  the  thickness  of  a 
wail  from  seeing  his  hapless  favourite ;  shall  almost  in 
the  midst  of  his  business  hear  the  moans  of  his  suhering 
servant ;  and  if  applied  to,  can  he  refuse  to  relieve  me  ] 
Impossible !  He  needs  only  know  where  I  am,  and  what 
miseries  I  experience,  to  restore  me,  not  perhaps  to  his 
pristine  favour,  but  to  the  common  privilege  of  living,  or 
at  least  of  dying,  where  I  choose." 

My  only  doubt  was,  whether  I  should  demean  myself 
so  far  as  to  implore  his  intercession.  This  scruple,  how- 
ever, one  of  my  satellites  soon  helped  me  to  get  over  by 
an  opportune  application  of  his  switch — only  to  keep  his 
hand  in  practice— just  as  I  was  weighing  the  pros  and 
cons.  Accordingly  I  adjured  the  first  fellow-prisoner 
who  was  liberated,  by  all  that  w-as  sacred,  to  acquaint  the 
drogueman  with  my  confinement,  and  to  lay  before  him 
my  petition.  I  must  confess,  that  there  was  nothing  the 
good-natured  creature  did  not  promise  in  his  joy  to  do 
for  me ;  but  there  I  rather  imagine  his  generosity  stopped. 
Though- he  had  sworn  that  the  sun  should  not  set  before 
he  spoke  in  my  behalf,  the  sun  set  and  rose,  and  set  and 
rose  again,  and  I  heard  nothing  more  of  the  fate  of  my 
request.  I  hereupon  repeated  it  to  another  person  al- 
lowed to  leave  the  Bagnio,  and  after  him  to  a  third,  and 
to  a  fourth ;  but  always  with  the  same  result.  All  pro- 
fessed equal  readiness  to  serve  me,  but  all  either  were 
alike  forgetful  of  their  promise,  or  unsuccessful  in  their 
application ;  for  no  notice  was  taken  of  me  by  Mavroyeni. 
In  vain  I  lingered  day  after  day  in  wearying  suspense 
and  feverish  expectation!  In  vain  I  questioned  every 
new  face  that  appeared !  No  one  knew  any  thing  of  ray 
business ;  no  one  had  heard  my  name  mentioned.  At  last, 
I  became  convinced  that  the  drogueman  was  determined 
to  leave  me  to  my  fate,  and  I  resolved  to  give  up  all  fur- 
ther hopes  of  being  freed,  at  least  by  the  liand  of  man.  I 
say  "by  the  hand  of  man  ;"  for  a  higher  power  was  be- 
ginning to  manifest  its  awful  presence,  which  held  out  a 
prospect  of  speedy  release,  not  only  to  me,  but  to  the 
whole  Bagnio.  This  was  the  plague. 
D2 


76  ANASTASIUS. 

The  scourge  had  been  expected  for  some  time.  By 
several  of  the  prisoners  had  the  frightful  hag,  its  harbin- 
ger, been  distinctly  seen  hovering  with  her  bat's  wings 
over  our  drear  abode,  and  with  her  hooked  talons  num- 
bering one  by  one  her  intended  but  still  unsuspecting 
victims.  In  the  silence  of  the  night  she  had  been  heard 
leisurely  calling  them  by  their  names,  knocking  at  their 
several  doors,  and  markmg  with  livid  spots  the  damp 
walls  of  their  cells.* 

Nothing  but  the  visitation  of  this  destructive  monster 
seemed  wanting  to  complete  the  horrors  which  sur- 
rounded me ;  for  if  even  when  only  stalking  forth  among 
men  free  to  fly  from  its  approach  and  to  shrink  from  its 
contact,  the  gaunt  spectre  mows  down  whole  nations  like 
the  ripe  corn  in  the  field,  it  may  be  imagined  what  havoc 
ensues  when  it  is  permitted  to  burst  forth  from  the  inmost 
bowels  of  hell,  in  the  midst  of  wretches  close-wedged  in 
their  dungeons,  or  linked  together  at  their  tasks,  whom 
it  must  trample  down  to  the  last  ere  it  can  find  a  vent  in 
space.  It  is  there,  that  with  a  focus  of  infection  ready- 
formed,  a  train  of  miasma  ready  laid  on  every  side,  though 
this  prime  minister  of  death  strike  at  random,  it  never 
misses  its  aim,  and  its  progress  outstrips  the  quickness 
of  lightning  or  of  thought.  It  is  there  that  even  those 
who  thus  far  retain  full  possession  of  health,  already  cal- 
culate the  hours  they  still  may  live ;  that  those  who  to- 
day drag  to  tiieir  last  abode  their  lifeless  companions, 
to-morrow  are  laid  beside  them;  and  that  those  who  are 
dying  make  themselves  pillows  of  tlie  bodies  not  yet 
cold  of  tliose  already  dead.  It  is  tJiere  that  finally  we 
may  behold  the  grim  destroyer,  in  one  place  awaited  in 
gloomy  silence,  in  another  encountered  with  fell  impre- 
cations, here  implored  with  anxious  cries,  there  wel- 
comed with  eager  thanks,  and  now,  perhaps,  received 
with  convulsive  laughter  and  mockery  by  such  as,  trying 
to  drink  away  its  terrors,  totter  on  the  brink  of  the  grave, 
from  drunkenness  as  well  as  from  disease. 

The  before  busy  bee-hive  of  the  Bagnio,  therefore,  soon 
became  a  dreadful  solitude.  Its  spacious  enclosures,  so 
lately  teeming  with  tenants  of  everj'  description,  now 
began  to  present  a  void  still  more  frightful  than  its  former 
fulness.  Universal  silence  pervaded  those  endless  galle- 
ries but  a  few  days  before  re-echoing  with  the  confused 

*  This  description  of  the  plague  is  conformable  to  tbe  form  in  which  Greek 
Bupcrstiiion  imbodies  thai  disease. 


ANASTASIUS.  77 

din  of  thousands  of  prisoners,  fighting  for  an  inch  of 
ground  on  which  to  lay  tlieir  aching  heads ;  and  nothing 
any  longer  appeared  that  wore  a  human  shape,  except 
here  and  there  some  livid  skeleton,  which,  as  if  again 
cast  up  by  the  grave,  slowly  crept  along  the  clammy 
walls.  When,  however,  the  dire  disease  had  devoured 
all  that  could  offer  food  to  its  voracity,  it  gradually  fell 
like  the  tlame  which  has  consumed  its  fuel,  and  at  last 
became  extinct.  Wiiat  few  miserable  remains  of  the 
former  population  of  tlie  Bagnio  had  escaped  its  fuiy 
were  again  restored  to  the  regular  sufferings  of  t!ie  place, 
suspended  during  the  utmost  height  of  the  desolation. 

I  was  among  these  scanty  relics.  I  who,  indifferent  to 
life,  had  never  stooped  to  avoid  the  shafts  of  death,  even 
when  they  flew  thickest  around  me — had  more  than  once 
laid  my  finger  on  the  livid  wound  they  inOicted — had 
probed  it  as  it  festered — I  yet  remained  unhurt :  for  some- 
times the  plague  is  a  magnanimous  enemy,  and,  vv'hile  it 
seldom  spares  the  pusillanimous  victim,  wliose  blood,  run- 
ning cold  ere  it  is  tainted,  loses  the  energy  necessary  to 
repel  the  infection  when  at  hand,  it  will  pass  him  by  who 
dares  its  utmost  fury,  and  advances  undaunted  to  meet 
its  raised  dart. 

Not  that  my  old  master  Yacoob  can  be  quoted  as 
another  instance  in  point.  He  too  escaped,  indeed ;  but 
it  was  from  any  thing  but  an  excess  of  courage.  Prob- 
ably, the  plague  thought  his  former  campaigns  in  her 
cause,  as  an  old-clothesman,  should  not  be  forgotten  in 
his  later  acts  of  hostility  as  a  physician.  Little  trust- 
ing, however,  to  the  generosity  of  his  old  ally,  who  might 
consider  the  obligation  repaid  by  the  ample  stock  of 
goods  she  occasionally  had  procured  him,  his  mind  had, 
during  the  progress  of  the  disease,  brought  forth  nothing 
but  plans  of  evasion.  Each  later  device,  indeed,  miscar- 
ried, as  all  the  former  had  done  before  it ;  but  this  was 
only  to  give  birth  to  some  plan  still  later,  and  more  pre- 
posterous. One  day,  astride  on  the  lofty  summit  of  the 
outer  wall  which  surrounds  the  prison,  lie  iiad  nearly  given 
his  enfeebled  guardians  the  slip,  by  softly  letting  iiiniself 
down  upon  a  heap  of  rubbish,  thrown  up  outside,  as  if  on 
purpose  to  break  his  fall ;  when,  most  unluckily  espied, 
he  was  hauled  down  to  receive  a  hundred  laslies  on  the 
soles  of  his  feet,  for  the  nimble  use  he  had  made  of  tliem. 
This  castigatiou,  inflicted,  must  have  ended  his  troubles. 
Fortunately,  he  had  laboured  before  under  a  suspicion  of 


78  ANASTASIUS. 

madness :  and  so  violent  a  paroxysm  of  raving  now  sud- 
denly seized  him,  that  some  of  the  by-standers  began 
to  think  an  hospital  fitter  for  his  residence  than  a  prison. 
The  sacredness  of  insanity  saved  his  skin.  The  keepers 
durst  not  execute  the  sentence  passed  upon  him ;  and 
Achmet,  to  whom  a  treat  in  his  own  way  was,  of  late, 
become  a  raritj',  since  the  plague  had  begun  to  rob  him 
of  his  pleasures,  walked  off,  sorely  disappointed,  and  de- 
voutly praying  God  to  deliver  the  Bagnio  from  all  such 
madmen ! 

Yacoob's  contrivances  to  be  released  from  his  confine- 
ment did  not  end  here.  He  had  got  by  heart  all  the 
prayers  of  the  Moliammedans,  and  secretly  made  himself 
perfect  in  all  the  accompanying  gestures.  One  morning, 
after  he  had  attracted  the  eye  of  a  Turkish  visiter  of 
some  distinction,  he  suddenly  fell  on  his  face,  crying,  "  he 
saw  the  prophet,  and  was  not  only  bidden  by  him  to  em- 
brace lslamism,*but  actually  instructed  how  to  perform 
its  rites ;" — of  which  indeed  he  forthwith  acquitted  himself 
with  great  dexieritj^  The  bait  took  with  the  stranger; 
but  the  farce  was  laughed  at  b}'  the  familiars  of  the  place, 
who  told  Yacoob,  he  might  go  to  the  mosque,  if  he  chose, 
but  reminded  him  that  there  was  one  in  the  Bagnio.  This 
damped  his  religious  ardour;  and  the  vision  sneaked  off, 
as  visions  do.  Still  did  he,  from  time  to  time,  repeat  his 
grimaces ;  and  he  was  always  observed  to  invoke  Allah 
most  lustily,  when  a  stranger  came  in  sight,  whose  heart 
he  had  hopes  of  moving.  It  was  curious  to  see  the  holy 
violence  MJth  which,  on  these  occasions,  he  Avent  through 
)iis  N'nmaz,+  until  large  drops  of  perspiration  trickled 
down  Ills  greasy  face.  No  disappointment  had  power  to 
stop  these  pious  but  unavailing  exercises. 

He  and  I  herded  little  together. '  The  ordinary  com- 
panion of  my  toil  was  a  young  Greek,  nearly  of  my  own 
age  ;  but  from  his  less  elevated  stature,  his  rounded  fea- 
tures, and  his  more  delicate  complexion,  seemingly,  three 
or  four  years  younger.  His  dress,  though  at  the  time  ra- 
ther tlie  worse  for  wear,  preserved  an  appearance  of  some- 
thing beyond  mere  neatness,  or  even  costliness  :  it  had  a 
sort  of  studied,  and,  what  would  be  called  in  Christendom, 
theatrical  elegance.  His  gait  and  manners  corresponded. 
They  too  offered,  not  an  air  of  quality,  but  a  species  of 
recherche  carried  beyond  natural  grace.     This  artificial 

*  Islamism — the  true  belief,  according  to  the  Mohammedan  doctrine. 
t  Namaz — the  chief  prayer  of  the  Mohammedans. 


ANASTASIUS.  79 

exterior,  this  refinement  of  appearance,  were  the  more 
remarkable,  from  the  simplicity  of  mind,  the  singleness 
of  heart  (if  I  may  so  say),  on  which  they  seemed  super- 
structed.  The  varnish  penetrated  not  beyond  the  sur- 
face. Yet  there  it  adhered  pertinaciously;  and,  with  the 
most  sincere  and  heart-felt  piety,  Anagnosti  never  fell 
upon  his  knees  to  say  his  prayers  without  an  air,  and 
never  rose  from  his  devotions  without  a  grace.  He, 
himself,  when  aware  of  these  superfluous  ornaments, 
blushed,  and  would  have  given  all  he  possessed  to  shake 
them  off:  but  they  clung  to  him  in  his  own  despite. 
Sometimes  I  used  to  rally  him  on  a  semblance  of  affec- 
tation, so  little  suited  to  our  abode,  and  so  discordant 
with  his  real  character.  "  Is  it  my  fault  ?"  cried  he,  one 
day.  "  If  the  plant  has  so  long  been  trained  to  formal 
symmetry',  can  the  utmost  neglect,  itself,  immediately  re- 
call its  primitive  ease  and  wildness  1  The  subject,  as 
you  may  have  observed,  is  one  I  do  not  like  to  think 
of,  and  hitherto  have  carefully  avoided  :  but  your  good- 
nature assures  me  of  your  pity.  Hear  my  storj^,  and 
judge." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"  My  father,"  continued  Anagnosti,  "  was  proesti*  of 
Stavro :  Phonea  gave  birth  to  my  revered  mother — " 

"  No  doubt,"  cried  I,  interrupting  him,  "  all  the  world 
knows  these  two  important  places ;  but  fancy  me  veiy 
ignorant,  and  tell  me  where  they  lie  V 

"  Near  Corinth,"  answered  tlie  youth,  somewhat  sur- 
prised, and  resumed  his  tale. 

"  The  inhabitants  of  Phonea,"  said  he,  "justly  boast  of 
their  proficiency  in  the  mysteries  of  divination.  This 
art  formed  my  mother's  principal  portion.  Unfortunately, 
her  skill  made  her  foresee  every  calamity,  but  it  found  a 
cure  for  none  ;  and  she  spent  her  life  in  bewailing  her 
sorrowful  endowments.  Those  of  my  father  were  of  a 
different  cast.  They  consisted  not  so  much  in  doubling 
present  evils  by  the  fear  of  future  mischiefs,  as  in  mak- 
ing the  best  of  the  ills  we  laboured  under.     When,  there- 

*  Proesti — the  Greek  primate  of  a  district. 


80  ANASTASIUS. 

fore,  one  evening,  a  troop  of  Arnaoots, — in  order  to  pay 
themselves  for  the  unwelcome  protection  they  had  aflforded 
us  against  the  Russians, — plundered  our  house,  made 
lirewood  of  our  olive-trees,  and  turned  out  our  cattle 
into  our  vineyards,  my  much-respected  father  observed, 
how  fortunate  was  this  misfortune,  as  we  possessed  at 
Salonica  a  rich  relation,  who  would  do  better  for  us 
than  Ave  could  do  for  ourselves — unless,  as  my  mother 
added,  with  a  shake  of  the  head,  he  should  be  dead  or 
ruined. 

"  This  kinsman  we  determined  to  seek  out.  Leaving 
our  patrimony  at  the  mercy  of  the  waywode,  as  a  trifling 
acknowledgment  for  his  trouble  in  selling  us  to  the  rob- 
bers, we  bade  adieu  to  our  native  land,  which  never  had 
looked  more  charming  than  it  did  at  that  moment,  and 
set  out  upon  our  journey.  My  father  trusted  for  our 
travelling  expenses  to  the  chaiity,  with  which,  he  was 
sure,  Providence  would  inspire  every  mortal  we  met; 
while  my  mother  trembled  lest  we  should  only  meet 
banditti.  If  any  thing  could  move  the  hardest  heart,  it 
certainly  was  our  [)rocession.  Imagine,  first,  a  man 
already  in  years,  loaded  with  the  scanty  wrecks  of  his 
property ;  next,  a  woman,  pale  and  emaciated,  and  borne 
down  by  illness,  witli  a  baby  at  the  breast,  and  leading 
another  l)y  the  hand,  hardly  able  to  follow  ;  while  myself^ 
between  two  little  girls,  one  of  ten,  and  one  of  twelve,  in 
a  most  tattered  condition,  brought  up  the  rear.  We  did 
not  beg,  for  we  knew  not  the  way ;  but  we  looked  wretch- 
edness itself:  and  sometimes  we  found  relief;  and  to 
those  that  bestowed  it  we  gave,  in  return,  all  that  we 
had  to  give,  our  blessing.  As,  however,  we  advanced  on 
the  journey,  we  bf.'gan  to  need  less  assistance.  This  my 
mother  had  said  would  happen,  and  she,  herself,  was  the 
one  that  accomplished  her  prediction.  Sinking  under  her 
grief,  she  turned  out  uf  the  patli,  sat  down  on  a  stone,  and 
urged  us  lo  proceed,  for  slie  could  go  no  farther.  I  tlu'ew 
my  arms  round  her  neck,  tried  to  cheer  lier,  and  sobbed. 
'  Oh  my  Anagnosti,'  said  slie,  as  slie  pressed  my  little 
fingers  within  her  clammy  hand,  and  fixed  on  my  coun- 
tenance her  anxious,  boding  look — '  O  my  curly-headed 
boy!  remember  yourpoor  mother's  last  words  :  let  others 
fear  their  foes ;  you,  my  sweet  innocent,  beware  only 
of  your  friends  !'  Then,  in  convulsive  agony,  she  clasped 
me  to  her  breast,  laid  down  lier  head,  and  died. 

"Much  as  my  mother's  weakness  had  retarded  our 


ANASTASIUS.  81 

progress,  her  decease  was  the  only  event  in  which  my 
father  could  not  at  first  see  any  advantage.  Long  he 
wept  for  his  loss  ;  and  at  hist  lie  dug  a  grave  by  the  road- 
side, at  which  we  all  helped  to  work.  In  it  was  buried 
my  poor  mother— all  but  this  lock  of  hair,  which  shall 
only  return  to  dust  with  her  child. 

"  Just  as  we  again  set  forward  from  the  dismal  spot 
the  baby,  which  long  had  pined,  expired  for  want  of  sus- 
tenance. We  would  not  divide  in  death  what  in  life  had 
thus  far  still  been  as  one :  and,  turning  back,  deposited 
the  child  in  the  lap  of  its  tender  parent :— they  sleep 
together ! 

"  My  father  now  observed, '  it  was  better  for  my  mother 
to  be  dead  than  to  suffer;  and  my  little  brother  was 
provided  for.'  Still  he  never  ceased  to  weep  until  we 
arrived  at  Volo.  A  lady  of  that  place,  who  had  lost  an 
only  child,  took  such  a  fancy  to  my  rosy  face  that  slie 
begged  to  have  it.  Her  nauseous  kisses  had  stamped  it 
hers  already  !  After  my  mother's,  I  could  not  bear  them. 
I\ly  father  was  but  indifferently  inclined  to  part  with  his 
Anagnosti — the  only  one  of  his  children  who,  in  all  liis 
looks  and  sayings,  reminded  him  of  his  Zoe  :  but  he  was 
poor;  he  thought  that  his  loss  would  be  my  advantage, 
and  he  only  proceeded  on  with  the  other  three.  I  staid, 
to  cry,  and  to  be  kissed, 

"  At  Salonica  my  father  found  that  his  affluent  rela- 
tion had  died  a  bankrupt,  as  my  mother  had  predicted. 
'This,'  he  observed,  'must  make  hinr  return  to  the 
labours  of  the  field,  which,  after  all,  were  the  healthiest.' 
Alas !  in  the  damp  deleterious  country  we  had  got  into, 
they  carried  him  off.  It  was  what  my  mother  knew 
would  happen.  In  a  quarrel  with  a  neighbour  at  home, 
she  had  heard  the  spiteful  wiettdi  wish  my  father  a  seven 
years'  ague.*  The  disease  only  took  seven  months  to 
bring  hun  to  the  grave;  and  this  he  thought  a  great 
mercy.  While  ill,  he  remembered  that  one  day  m  ilie 
fields,  on  suddenly  turning  round,  he  had  seen  liis  fellow- 
labourers  stamp  on  his  shadow.  How  could  he  after 
that  be  expected  to  live  ?  At  the  last  gasp,  his  eye  lighted 
up  at  the  thouglits  of  rejoining  his  Zoe]  Charitable 
persons  took  in  the  Uttle  orphans:  I  sent  them  the  few 
pence  I  had  collected :  but  alas !  my  little  hoard  evaporated 
by  the  way ! 

*  A  seven  years'  ague -the  liberal  wish  of  an  enemy  in  a  country  replete 
with  malaria. 

D3 


83  ANASTASIUS. 

"  My  own  good  fortune  was  of  short  duration.  The 
old  lady  at  Volo  who  had  promised  to  adopt  me,  changed 
her  fondness  into  aversion  when  she  found  how  dearly 
I  loved  to  play  in  puddles,  and  how  little  I  liked  to  be 
kissed.  She  scolded  me  for  being  a  boy;  and  sighed  to 
think  what  a  tidy  little  girl  she  might  have  had  in  my 
place,  who  never  for  an  instant  would  have  quitted  her 
side.  The  first  of  these  faults  I  acknowledged,  and 
observed  that  she  might  have  been  aware  of  it  before ; 
and  as  for  the  other  grievance,  I  told  her,  '  If  I  could  not 
always  stay  by  her  side,  I  could  do  the  next  best  thing, 
which  was,  never  to  go  near  her  again.'  She  made  no 
reply,  and  I  ran  away. 

"  As  I  had  always  promised  the  holy  Virgin  faithfully 
to  divide  with  her  whatever  I  might  earn,  I  made  no 
doubt  that  she  would  direct  me  well  in  my  search  for  a 
livelihood.  I  cannot  think  she  did ;  though  it  might  be 
for  my  good.  She  made  me  engage  on  board  a  Hydriote* 
laden  with  corn  for  the  Black  Sea.  A  single  family 
formed  tlie  crew,  from  the  captain  down  to  the  lowest 
cabin-boy.  But  to  that  family  poor  Anagnosti  belonged 
not;  and  when  all  the  rest  in  a  calm  used  to  dance  on 
the  deck,  I  alone  was  left  out,  to  listen  to  their  mirth  in 
the  hold.  Alas  !  I  have  since  had  dancing  enough !  At 
the  time,  however,  I  thought  the  hardship  so  great,  that 
I  begged  of  the  (taptain,  on  my  knees,  to  let  me  dance 
with  the  rest,  and  to  flog  me  afterward  as  much  as  he 
pleased.  Had  he  granted  my  petition,  I  might  not  have 
had  leisure  to  discover,  as  1  did,  how  ill  my  amphibious 
life  suited  my  abilities,  or  ajjreed  with  my  duty  to  the 
Panagia.  I  therefore  resolved  to  abandon  it.  The 
moment  we  touched  at  Constantinople  I  took  to  my 
heels,  not  doubting  to  find  an  easy  subsistence  in  a  place 
where,  as  I  had  heard,  the  streets  were  paved  with  silver, 
and  the  houses  roofed  with  gold.  For  two  long  days  I 
waded  knee  deep  in  mire  ;  only  sleeping  all  night  in  the 
cinders  of  the  public  baths,  and  in  the  morning  without 
a  mors'-l  to  break  my  f;ist.  So  great  became  my  hunger, 
that,  at  a  sudden  turn,  winch  brought  me  opposite  a  cook- 
shop  near  tlie  Tophana,t  the  sight  of  a  f)late  of  smoking 

*  Hydriolc— from  the  island  of  Hydra ;  chiefly  inhabited  by  sailors  and  ship- 
owners; who,  at  the  beginnine  of  ihe  revoluiion,  when  France  was  shut  out 
from  the  Fialtic,  supiilied  her  with  corn  from  the  Arcliipelago. 

t  To|itiana— the  cannon  foundry,  which  gives  its  narne  to  a  handsome  quay 
near  Oalata. 


ANASTASIUS.  83 

kiebabs,*  just  taken  out  of  the  oven,  almost  bereft  me 
of  my  senses.  Not  daring^  to  approach,  I  involuntarily 
fell  on  my  knees,  and  half-worshipped  the  dear  hissing 
cutlets  at  a  distance.  An  ill-looking  fellow  saw  the  ac- 
tion, and  guessing  the  motive,  told  me,  '  if  I  was  hungry, 
to  come  along  with  him  :  I  should  not  want  for  bread,  as 
he  was  a  baker.'  He  wanted  a  shopboy;  and  hard  as  it 
might  seem  for  the  son  of  a  proesti  of  Stavro  to  sell  rolls 
at  Constantinople,  my  stomach  audibly  groaned  the 
words, '  necessity  has  no  law !' 

"  My  apprenticeship  was  short.  The  very  second  day 
of  my  ministry,  after  a  flying  visit  from  a  Turk,  my  mas- 
ter came  up  to  me,  and  said,  '  he  liked  me  so  well,  he 
had  determined  immediately  to  give  me  a  share  in  the 
business ;  and  I  had  nothing  to  do — whoever  might  call 
— but  to  say  tlie  concern  was  my  own.'  On  this  my  prin- 
cipal ran  out,  leaving  me  in  astonishment  at  my  speedy 
promotion. 

"  A  person  did  call ;  and  I  did  say  the  concern  was  my 
own:  but  as  that  person  was  the  Stambool  effendee,t 
who  had  set  apart  that  day  for  weighing  the  weights  and 
for  measuring  the  measures  of  the  different  tradesmen ; 
the  deficiency  he  found  in  ours  made  him — though  very 
condescending  and  chatty  at  first— end  by  ordering  that 
I  should  be  dealt  by  as  I  dealt  by  my  loaves ;  namely, 
baked  in  my  own  oven.  In  this  consisted  the  chief  ad- 
vantage 1  was  to  derive  from  the  partnership. 

"  My  cries  of  '  Aman'J  at  this  intemperate  sentence 
brought  out  the  whole  neighbourhood.  It  knew  ray  mas- 
ter's'character,  vouched  for  mine  without  knowing  it,  and 
through  dint  of  strenuous  intercession,  moved  the  eften- 
dee  to  such  excess  of  lenity,  as,  in  regard  for  my  inno- 
cence, only  to  order  me  three  dozen  strokes  on  the  soles 
of  my  feet. 

"  The  change,  undoubtedly,  was  to  my  advantage ;  yet 
did  I  feel  so  angry,  that  I  swore  rather  to  go  without 
bread  all  the  days  of  my  life,  than  ever  again  to  trust  to 
a  baker.  Lame  as  I  was,  I  tried  to  hobble  away.  An 
odd-looking  man,  who  had  been  eying  me  all  along  from 
head  to  foot,  asked  me  whether  I  loved  dancmg.  The 
question  seemed  insulting;  but,  lest  I  should  commit 
myself,  I  neither  answered  yes  or  no.     '  You  have  been 

*  Kiebabs— mutton  steaks,  sold  in  the  cook-shops  at  Constantinople, 
t  Stambool  Effendee— inspector  of  the  police  of  the  capital, 
1  My  cries  of  '  Aman'— of  mercy  or  pardon. 


84  ANASTASIUS. 

ill  used,'  added  he ;  '  my  compassionate  heart  moves 
me  to  take  you  home  and  cure  your  bruises.'  I  fancied 
not  the  man's  countenance,  but  my  feet  told  me  not  to 
mind  his  face,  and  I  saw  the  less  of  it  as  he  took  me  on 
his  back.  While  riding  along  I  conceived  very  sinister 
forebodings  ;  but  when  set  down  where  we  stopped,  I 
smiled  at  my  fears.  Nothing  could  look  less  terrific  than 
the  place  of  my  destination.  Around  the  walls  hung 
suspended  by  elegant  cords  and  tassels,  lutes,  cimbals, 
guitars,  and  other  musical  instruments,  inlaid  with  mother- 
of-pearl.  The  richest  dresses  were  airing  at  the  win- 
dows; and  if  tlie  habitation  resembled  any  one  thing 
more  than  another,  it  was  a  temple  of  mirth.  In  fact, 
when  restored,  by  wholesome  applications  both  outward 
and  within,  to  my  pristine  condition,  I  asked  what  I  could 
do  in  return  for  so  much  hospitality  ?  the  answer  was, 
'  to  dance.' 

"  I  immediately  fell  a  capering.  But  this  was  not  the 
thing  meant.  My  host — a  Greek  of  Scyra — had  in  his 
youth  been  a  dancer  by  profession.  Age  having  stiffened 
his  joints,  he  now  gained  his  liveliliood  by  giving  supple- 
ness to  younger  limbs.  He  had  a  number  of  boys  whom 
he  trained  to  perform  ballets  in  the  conacs  or  palaces  of 
the  great.  His  eye  had  been  caught  by  my  nimbleness 
when  about  to  be  put  into  the  oven,  and  he  roused  my 
aml)ition  by  pledging  hnnself  to  make  me  a  fust-rate 
dancer. 

"  The  greatest  natural  genius  still  requires  the  assist- 
ance of  culture.  For  a  while  I  toiled  beyond  conception. 
But  as  J  never  attempted  a  difficult  step  without  ad- 
dressing the  Panagia,  I  at  last  succeeded.  I  may  say 
without  vanity,  I  acquired  the  perfection  of  the  an.  The 
exactness  of  my  poise,  the  precision  of  my  movements, 
the  apparent  ease  with  which  I  performed  the  most  diffi- 
cult steps — people  maintained — were  positively  sublime. 
Yroni  the  ends  of  my  fingers  to  the  tip  of  my  toes,  all 
was  expression  and  sentiment.  The  best  connoisseurs 
declared  that  in  me  alone  they  had  found  the  poetry  of 
the  heel ;  and  my  very  shadow  was  lighter  than  other 
people's  shadows.     But  I  do  not  wish  to  praise  myself! 

"  That  I  became  celebrated  I  need  not  tell.  Every 
other  dancer  was  voted  execrable.  Whenever  1  appeared, 
I  was  stunned  with  applause  before  I  moved  a  step  ;  and 
the  spectators  were  in  trances  at  my  performance  of  what 
in  others  would  have  been  hissed ;  for  it  was  not  always 


ANASTASIUS.  85 

that  I  exerted  my  best  abilities.  With  indifferent  judges 
I  scarce  would  stir;  and  even  with  the  best  I  sometimes 
had  my  bad  days,  when  all  tl)e  coaxing  in  the  world  could 
not  draw  out  my  powers.  Once  I  felt  so  ill  in  reality, 
that  another  dancer  was  sent  out  in  my  clothes,  who, 
accomplishing  with  evident  effort  what  I  performed  with 
ease,  made  the  blockheads  declare  that  I  never  yet  had 
danced  so  well  as  I  did  that  evening. 

"  My  emoluments  kept  pace  with  my  celebrity.  At  each 
pause  in  my  exhibitions  my  forehead  used  to  be  studded 
with  gold  coins  ;*  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  perform- 
ance, heaps  of  sequins  showered  from  all  sides  into  my 
spangled  cap.  Who  then  could  have  fancied  me  other- 
wise than  happy  1  But  it  is  one  thing  to  divert  others, 
and  it  is  another  to  taste  of  joy  one's  self !  The  constant 
fatigue,  the  sense  of  dependence,  tlie  fear  of  not  suc- 
ceeding, the  liability  to  the  humours  of  a  capricious  au- 
dience, the  danger  of  losing  the  attraction  of  novelty,  the 
chance  of  being  eclipsed  by  some  abler  competitor,  are 
alone  dreadful  drawbacks  on  a  profession  like  mine.  Yet 
v.'ith  me  they  were  minor  evils.  Keener  sufferings  pe- 
culiar to  myself  assailed  me,  and  that  in  general  by  pre- 
ference just  when  my  situation  seemed  most  enviable. 
For  it  was  almost  always  in  the  intoxication  and  tlurry 
of  spirits  produced  by  the  exertions  I  made,  by  the  bravos 
I  excited,  and  by  the  crowds  of  people,  the  glare  of  lights, 
and  the  din  of  instruments  I  moved  among,  that  the  image 
of  my  deceased  mother,  as  she  appeared  in  her  last  mo- 
ments, would  rise  with  most  distinctness  to  my  heated 
fancy.  And  often  have  I,  between  the  several  acts  of 
the  entertainment,  retired  to  some  lonely  corner  to  weep 
at  liberty,  while  the  whole  assembly  seemed  in  ecstasies 
of  pleasure.  It  is  true,  that  if  dancing  produced  melan- 
chol}'',  melancholy  more  than  once  in  its  turn  produced 
dancing.  Sometimes,  in  the  sort  of  phrensy  bi  ought  on 
by  the  clang  of  a  full  band,  I  have  started  up,  and  like 
the  mewlewi  derwishes,t  have  reeled  round  the  room 
like  a  person  intoxicated ;  until,  completely  exhausted, 
I  fell  senseless  on  the  floor. 

"  To  add  to  the  discomforts  of  my  situation,  I  was  not 
even  allowed  to  retain  the  hard-earned  fruits  of  my  labour. 

*  My  forehead  used  to  be  studded  with  gold  coins — Turkish  mode  of  re- 
warding public  dancers  and  sinsers. 

t  Tlie  Mewlewi  Derwishes— sort  of  Turkish  friars,  who  in  their  devout  es- 
ercises  twirl  round  in  their  tekkie  of  chapel,  hke  tops. 


86  ANASTASIUS. 

Of  the  gold  which  I  gained  by  the  sweat  of  my  brow  not 
a  penny  remained  my  own,  except  what  in  the  evening, 
when  I  crossed  the  cemetery  of  Galata,  I  had  the  address 
to  slip  into  a  hollow  tree,  or  to  drop  behind  a  mouldering 
tombstone,  where  the  crows  often  were  the  first  to  find 
my  little  store.  The  moment  I  got  home  from  our  nightly 
exhibition  I  was  regularly  searched,  and  every  farthing 
found  about  me  went  into  my  master's  pocket,  as  his  pay 
for  my  board,  lodging,  and  maintenance.  Enraged  at  his 
illiberality,  I  one  evening  threw  my  gilt  jacket  in  his  face, 
saying  I  wished  to  keep  nothing  that  was  his,  but  would 
go  and  exercise  my  talent,  naked  as  I  stood,  on  my  own 
account.  Hereupon  the  vampire — the  odious  blood- 
sucker, brought  against  me  such  a  bill  for  bestowing  that 
talent  of  which  he  said  I  wanted  to  rob  him,  as  must 
have  left  me  all  my  life  a  mere  drudge — a  puppet  moving 
at  his  nod — had  I  not  determined  to  settle  the  account 
my  own  way. 

"  In  fact,  now  clearly  discerning  the  whole  drift  of  the 
hospitahty  which  the  Scyrote  so  kindly  had  afforded  me, 
I  henceforth  watched  my  opportunity  to  slip  away  from 
the  ballet-master  at  Galata,  as  I  had  done  from  tlie  lady 
at  Volo,  the  Hydriote  captain,  and  the  fraudulent  baker. 
This  was  not  an  easy  matter.  Our  manager  was  vigi- 
lance personified,  and  never  allowed  me  to  go  out  of  his 
sight.  An  accident  befriended  me.  One  of  my  com- 
panions had  long  cherished  the  greatest  envy  of  my  supe- 
riority. In  upas  de  deux  we  performed  together  as  a 
lover  and  his  mistress ;  he  kicked  my  shins ;  I  boxed  his 
ears ;  he  retorted  by  breaking  on  my  head  the  guitar  with 
which  he  was  serenading  me,  and  scratching  my  face  in 
such  a  manner  that,  the  next  time  the  troop  went  out  I 
was  left  at  home  as  unfit  to  be  seen.  Whatever  might  ail 
my  head,  my  heels  were  in  good  order ;  I  took  to  them  as 
usual ;  and  never  stopped  till  I  had  reached  the  quarter 
most  remote  from  where  the  Scyrote  lived. 

"  Here  I  might  dance  on  my  own  account  as  much  as  I 
pleased,  but  found  nobody  to  dance  to,  except  the  lowest 
rabble.  In  retiring  out  of  my  master's  latitude  I  had 
outstepped  my  own  vantage  ground.  From  exhibiting 
in  palaces  to  assemblies  of  the  great,  amid  showers  of 
gold,  I  was  reduced  to  toil  in  taverns  for  the  amusement 
of  ruffians,  who  thought  a  few  paras  a  very  liberal 
reward  ;  after  perhaps  mortifying  my  pride  into  the  bar- 
gain, by  invidious  comparisons  with  some  arrant  postuie- 


ANASTASIUS.  87 

m-dkcr.  Obliged  to  lower  the  tone  of  my  performance 
to  the  standard  of  my  new  patrons,  I  lost  all  that  finish 
and  delicacy  of  movement  for  which  my  dancing  had 
been  celebrated,  and  dwindled  into  little  better  than  a 
tumbler. 

•'  Nor  was  this  all.  One  night,  after  drudging  to  amuse 
a  set  of  brutes,  I  met  with  such  ill  treatment  from  the 
Bacchantes  their  companions,  as  to  make  me  expect,  with 
my  poor  lyre,  the  end  of  Orpheus.  Thank  God !  the 
Panagia — knowing  how  observant  I  always  had  been  of 
her  festivals — protected  me  even  against  her  own  sex, 
and  my  poor  life  was  saved,  little  worth  as  it  was.  This 
signal  escape  led  me  to  serious  rellections. 

"I  had  always  been  punctual  in  my  prayers,  both 
before  dancing  and  after;  and  had  as  yet  committed  no 
very  heinous  sin,  save  once  on  a  fast  day  eating  some 
nice  yaoort,*  which  a  Turk  gave  me  after  a  long  per- 
formance ;  but  I  did  not  know  what  worse  might  happen 
in  my  daily  intercourse  with  infidels ;  and  I  determined 
to  avoid  the  danger  by  quitting  a  profession  which,  if  dis- 
tinguished, is  also  dangerous,  and  full  of  hazard  to  one's 
faith  and  morals. 

"  Alas !  I  was  too  late  to  execute  my  good  intentions  ! 
My  special  admirers  meeting  at  a  tavern  with  the  pro- 
fessed supporters  of  a  rival  dancer,  the  two  factions  came 
to  a  pitched  battle,  in  which  a  life  or  two  were  lost,  while 
I — the  innocent  cause  of  the  disturbance — was  taken  up 
by  the  patrole,  and  thrown  into  this  place  of  wretched- 
ness, more  than  3ver  convinced  of  the  truth  of  all  my 
honoured  mother's  predictions.  For  what  were  the  old 
lady  of  Volo,  who  washed  her  hands  of  me  when  I  would 
kiss  her  no  longer;  the  Hydriote  captain,  who  would  not 
let  me  dance  with  my  messmates,  after  giving  me  shelter 
onboard  his  ship;  the  baker  wlio  (irst  fed,  and  next  slily 
destined  me  to  a  snug  corner  in  his  oven;  the  Scyrote, 
who  cured,  who  entertained,  and  afterward  robl)ed  me  of 
all  my  lawful  gains ;  and  the  caleonjecs,  who  went  about 
my  zealous  champions,  in  order  to  get  me  almost  torn  to 
pieces  limb  by  limb,  and  locked  up  in  the  Bagnio — but  so 
many  persons  at  first  all  professing  themselves  my 
stanch  and  trusty  friends ! — and  such  is  the  horror  with 
which  that  word  now  inspires  me,  that,  were  I  to  hear  the 
Panagia  call  herself  my  friend,  great  as  hitherto  has  been 

*Yaoort— a  sort  of  Turkish  cream  cheese. 


88  ANASTASIU6. 

her  goodness,  I  should  expect  her  to  end  by  playing  me 
some  scurvy  trick." 

Here  ended  my  companion's  tale — the  faithful  picture 
of  his  mind ;  in  which  moral  rectitude  and  affection  were 
strangely  combined  with  conceit,  credulity,  and  bigotry. 
In  the  wide  range  of  social  intercourse,  this  odd  mixture 
might  not  have  taken  much  hold  on  the  harder  materials 
of  my  composition  ;  nor  should  I  greatly  have  coveted 
an  intimacy  with  the  character  of  a  stage  dancer  grafted 
on  a  peasant ;  but  in  the  narrow  precincts  of  the  Bagnio 
fastidiousness  wears  out,  and  constant  juxtaposition  pro- 
duced different  sentiments ;  and  the  more,  as  athwart 
Anagnosti's  apparent  facility  of  temper  and  warmth  of 
heart,  there  broke  forth  a  sort  of  determined  sturdiness 
on  certain  points,  which  all  the  laxity  of  his  education 
and  companions  never  had  overcome,  and  which,  inclined 
as  one  might  be  to  smile  at  his  studied  exterior,  made  one 
feel  a  sort  of  respect  for  the  stuff  within.  Insensibly, 
therefore,  an  attachment  grew  between  us,  which,  though 
it  daily  increased,  gave  my  companion  no  alarm,  until 
one  day  I  observed  what  alleviation  our  misery  had 
derived  from  our  friendship.  At  this  unguarded  speech 
Anagnosti  turned  pale.  "  Friendship  !"  repeated  he  ; 
"  say  not  so  !  It  will  again  bring  me  ill  fortune. 
Like  the  rest  of  my  friends,  you  will  ultimately  be  my 
bane." 

"  Words,"  answered  I,  laughing,  "  cannot  alter  the 
nature  of  things.  We  certainly  at  this  moment  are 
friends,  and  warm  ones  too :  for  I  believe  each  would 
willingly  lay  down  liis  life  for  the  other;  and  even  if  the 
dangers  of  friendship  shouhl  now  make  us  resolve  to 
become  bitter  enemies,  it  would  already  be  too  late  to 
seek  safety  from  a  future  evil  in  a  present  one.  The 
mischief  is  done  ;  the  spell  is  upon  you." 

"  Then,"  said  Anagnosti,  after  ruminating  a  little,  "  if 
we  cannot  be  less  tlian  friends,  let  us  be  more!  Let  us 
become  brothers  ;  let  religion  sanctify  our  intimacy,  so 
as  to  divest  it  of  its  dangers:"  aiu1  upon  this  he  proj^osed 
to  me  the  solemn  ceremony,*  which,  in  our  church,  unites 
two  friends  of  either  sex  in  the  face  of  the  altar  by 
solemn  vows,  gives'  them  the  endearing  appellation  of 
brothers  or  sisters,  and  imposes  upon  them  the  sacred 
obligation  to  stand  by  each  other  in  life  and  death. 

*  The  solemn  ceremony— still  in  use  in  Albania,  and  along  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  Adriatic. 


ANASTASIUS.  89 

Anagnosti,  though  he  certainly  had — in  Ills  different 
avocations — run  away  as  often  as  he  had  stood  his 
ground,  and  had,  from  his  last  mode  of  life,  to  appear- 
ance, derived  a  certain  tinge  of  effeminacy,  yet  in  reality 
was  brave  as  well  as  affectionate.  He  had  more  than 
once  resisted  his  guardians  most  manfully  in  their  unjust 
behests ;  he  had  even  defended  me,  one  day  that  I  lay  ill 
and  unable  to  defend  myself,  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  against 
a  fellow-slave,  who  would  have  plunged  a  dagger  in  my 
breast,  for  the  sake  of  my  worn-out  capote ;  and  from  his 
disposition  there  was  every  reason  to  expect  that  the 
fruits  and  the  burthens  of  our  alliance  would  be  ever 
equally  shared.  The  first  day  we  were  permitted,  there- 
fore, we  went  to  a  priest  in  the  Bagnio,  and  desired  the 
holy  man,  after  the  short  servict;  which  our  straitened 
means  permitted,  to  accomplish  the  indissoluble  union. 
At  first  the  venerable  papas  treated  the  request  as  a  jest. 
"The  practice,"  he  said,  "was  quite  obsolete,  except 
among  the  most  barbarous  clans  of  the  remotest  prov- 
inces. Epirotes,  and  other  savages,  who  like  them 
lived  in  eternal  strife,  might  indeed  still  retain  such  old  cus- 
toms, but  the  people  at  Constantinople  were  sufficiently 
employed  in  minding  their  own  concerns,  without  gratu- 
itously engaging  to  risk  their  lives  for  others."  This  in- 
direct remonstrance  producing  no  effect,  the  priest  warned 
us  more  earnestly  to  consider,  before  we  irrevocably 
bound  ourselves  by  so  serious  an  engagement.  Still  we 
insisted,  and  he  at  last  complied.  He  enveloped  us  in 
the  sacred  veil,  symbol  of  tlie  holy  ties  we  contracted; 
and  made  us  swear  on  our  knees,  in  the  face  of  Heaven, 
to  share  together  like  brothers,  while  we  breathed,  both 
good  and  adverse  fortune. 

The  solemn  vow  pronounced,  and  Heaven  fervently 
implored  to  bless  it,  we  again  rose.  I  shook  Anagnosti 
by  the  hand,  and  could  not  refrain  from  saying, "  Though 
now  brothers,  still  friends  as  before." 

He  hivoluntarily  shuddered.  All  his  fears  recurred; 
and  on  casting  off  tlie  sacred  cincture,  we  found  on  it  a 
fresh  stain  of  blood.  How  it  came  there  neither  of  us 
could  guess.  We  searched  for  the  eatise  :  none  could  be 
discovered ;  and  we  at  last  forgot  the  evil  omen. 

The  very  period  which  saw  our  intimacy  indissolubly 
riveted  was  fated  to  be  that  of  our  separation.  Whether, 
at  the  time  of  my  imprisonment,  the  length  of  my  deten- 
tion had  been  fixed :  or  whether  (as  I  afterward  suspected) 


90  ANASTASIUS. 

Mavroyeni,  while  apparently  rejecting  my  application,  in 
reality  had  procured  my  deliverance — one  morning  when 
I  least  expected  it,  1  was  bidden  to  quit  the  Bagnio.  I  say 
"  bidden ;"  for,  thinking  the  thing  optional,  I  at  first,  in 
conformity  with  my  sacred  engagement,  refused  to  accept 
my  freedom,  unless  shared  by  my  friend.  But  I  now 
found  myself  as  little  allowed  to  stay  in  as  I  had  before 
been  to  stay  out  of  the  Bagnio,  at  my  pleasure.  I  must 
resume  my  liberty  whether  I  chose  or  not,  and  was  very 
near  being  driven  by  force  out  of  prison — a  rather  unusual 
circumstance !  Anagnosti  tried  to  sweeten  the  bitterness 
of  my  release,  by  observing  that  it  might  be  rendered  in- 
strumental in  procuring  his  own.  "  Remember,"  said  he, 
"  that  in  losing  you,  I  lose  all.  O  Anastasius,  0  my — 
JHend!  rftmember — " 

Here  his  sobs  interrupted  his  speech,  and  the  guards, 
tired  of  our  tedious  leave-taking,  tore  us  asunder.  After 
proceeding  on  a  few  yards,  I  turned  round  to  cast  one 
more  last  look  after  my  companion,  but  already  the  gates 
had  been  shut  behind  me  :  and  I  went  forth — shaking  off 
indeed  the  dust  of  my  prison,  and  with  all  Constantinople 
open  before  me — but  without  a  single  particle  of  that 
rapturous  joy  at  the  heart  which  I  always  fancied  must 
accompany  the  feeling  of  my  liberation. 


CHAPTER  Vni. 

To  enjoy  liberty  one  must  live,  and  to  live  one  must 
eat — and  I  had  not  a  para  in  the  world  to  purchase  me  a 
meal.  In  this  embarrassing  situation  I  thought  of  my 
old  patron.  If  he  really  had  procured  my  freedom,  it 
was  proper  to  thank  him;  if  not,  it  still  was  wise  to  do 
so.  In  the  first  case,  he  might  be  induced  by  my  sense 
of  past  kindness  to  seek  greater  claims  still  to  my  future 
gratitude ;  since  benefactors  often  resemble  gamblers, 
wjio  double  their  stakes  rather  than  they  should  lose  the 
benefit  of  a  first  throw;  and  in  the  latter  case,  the  thanks 
I  gave  for  imaginary  services  would  make  the  drogue- 
man  wish  to  deserve  them  by  real  obligations.  Gratitude 
I  had  often  found  most  productive  when  it  preceded 
the  benefit.    Besides,  I  had  my  friend  Anagnosti  to  in- 


ANASTASIUS.  91 

tercede  for ;  and  I  was  desirous  to  strike  the  iron  while 
it  was  hot. 

Most  willingly  would  I  have  smartened  myself  up  a 
little  for  the  visit.  Not  only  a  tattered  appearance 
smooths  the  way  but  indifferently  athwart  the  outpost  of 
pampered  domestics,  who  guard  tlie  approaches  of  the 
great  man's  citadel ;  it  often  even  makes  the  master  him- 
self ashamed  of  his  petitioner.  Rich  people  readily 
accuse  the  poor  of  wanting  proper  respect,  when  they 
offend  the  fastidious  eye  of  pride  by  the  display  of  their 
wretchedness.  All,  however,  I  could  do  was  to  arrange 
my  rags  gracefully ;  and  repeating  to  myselt,  as  I  strutted 
along,  that  a  man's  innate  dignity  of  mien  and  manners 
were  a  sufficient  passport  even  with  a  king — I  boldly 
went  to  the  Fanar,  and  with  the  least  possible  tremor 
knocked  at  Mavroyeni's  door. 

It  certainly  opened  at  my  summons,  but  not  to  let  me 
enter.  The  porter  who  answered,  holding  it  ajar  in  Iris 
hand,  contrived  to  fill  the  whole  aperture  with  his  own 
person,  until  he  had  most  leisurely  surveyed  mine.  While 
thus  examined,  I  recognised  in  my  surveyor  an  old  ac- 
quaintance. So  it  seems  he  did  in  me ;  for  when  I  asked 
to  see  his  master,  he  banged  the  door  in  my  face,  without 
a  syllable  of  reply.  It  was  just  what  I  myself  had  done 
a  dozen  times  when  with  Mavroyeni  at  Argos.  The 
uncouth  janitor's  reception,  therefore,  I  thought,  must 
originate  higher.  Servants  behaved  not  in  this  manner 
unless  they  felt  their  conduct  sanctioned  by  their  mas- 
ters :  for  dependants  instinctively  know  the  antipathies 

of  their  patrons.      "  Hie  thcc   hcnoo,  therefore,  Anasta- 

sius,"  exclaimed  I,  "  thou  hast  no  longer  any  business 
near  this  threshold;"  and  hereupon  I  walked  away. 

At  that  instant  the  same  door  burst  open  again,  and 
almost  flew  off  its  hinges.  I  looked  back.  It  was  to  let 
out  Mavroyeni  himself.  Convinced  that  an  attempt  to 
accost  him  would  only  expose  me  to  fresh  mortifications, 
I  now  felt  as  solicitous  to  avoid  his  eye  as  I  had  been 
before  to  be  admitted  to  his  presence.  I  hastily  drew 
back  my  head,  and  passed  on,  or  rather  ran  away,  as  if 
it  had  been  an  ignominy  even  to  be  seen  near  the  drogue- 
man's  abode. 

Heated  with  my  race,  I  rushed  into  the  first  coffee- 
house I  saw  open,  and  observing  a  large  bowl  of  hoshab* 

*  Hoshab— a  beverage  made  of  fruit  of  various  sorta. 


92  ANASTASIUS. 

most  invitingly  set  out  on  the  counter,  greedily  snatched 
up  the  basin,  and  gulped  down  the  icy  beverage.  I  had 
no  earthly  means  of  payment ;  but  heaven  came  to  my 
assistance.  Exhausted  with  inanition,  I  felt  too  weak  to 
resist  the  sudden  chill.  It  struck  me  to  the  heart.  I 
reeled  backwards,  and  fell  senseless  on  the  floor. 

How  long  the  fit  lasted  I  am  unable  to  tell.  All  I 
know  is,  that  when  my  senses  returned  I  found  myself 
in  a  smart  jog  trot,  bumping  at  the  back  of  a  hamal,  and 
travelling  in  this  inconvenient  posture  at  the  rate  of  a 
league  an  horn-,  up  one  dirty  lane  and  down  another;  but 
whither  was  more  than  I  could  guess. 
5  I  therefore  made  free  to  ask  the  question,  and  was  but 
little  pleased  with  the  information  this  procured  me. 
Convicted,  by  my  sudden  seizure,  of  a  confirmed  plague, 
the  master  of  the  shop  had  only  felt  desirous  to  get  rid 
as  soon  as  possible  of  so  unwelcome  a  customer ;  and 
had  called  in  the  porter  aforesaid,  to  convey  me  to  the 
hospital.  Thither  I  was  speeding  as  fast  as  another 
man's  legs  could  carry  my  body :  for  even  during  the 
above  account  my  bearer  slackened  not  his  pace,  but  kept 
jogging  on  as  lustily  as  before. 

I  took  the  liberty  of  representing  that  there  was  a  mis- 
take in  the  case.  I  might  be  ill  indeed,  but  I  was  totally 
free  from  any  infectious  disorder.  "  Nothing  more 
likely,"  answered  the  hamal ;  "  but  he  was  paid  for  the 
job,  and  must  earn  his  fare;"  and  upon  this  he  only 
grasped  me  somewhat  tighter  than  before,  lest,  being  less 
unwell  than  he  had  imagined,  I  might  easier  contrive  to 
give  him  the  slip.  In  vain  I  insisted  upon  being  let 
loose,  and  excused  from  going  wliere,  if  I  brought  not 
the  plague,  1  was  sure  to  find  it.  My  expostulations  were 
of  no  avail;  and  I  therefore  tried  to  liberate  myself  by 
pommelling  the  perverse  porter  with  all  my  might.  This 
was  not  very  great,  in  my  weak  state;  and  the  little  im- 
pression I  could  make  on  the  tough  hide  of  my  obstinate 
beast,  instead  of  making  him  throw  me  off,  only  served 
to  quicken  his  pace. 

I  now  resorted  to  the  last  means  of  salvation  in  my 
power,  fixed  my  claws  in  the  brawny  throat  of  the  mis- 
creant, and  squeezed  him  almost  to  suffocation.  Finding 
his  load  became  too  troublesome,  he  at  last  let  me  slip 
down  from  his  back  to  the  ground,  swore  I  was  the  most 
refractory  piece  of  goods  he  ever  had  carried,  and  left 
me,  in  order  to  seek  elsewhere  an  easier  fare. 


ANASTASIUS.  93 

One  street  appeared  to  me  as  good  as  another  to  die 
in ;  and  my  present  sensations  foreboded  nothing  else. 
I  crawled  to  a  stepping-stone  near  the  place  where  I  had 
been  deposited,  and  on  that  pillow  I  resigned  myself  to 
my  fate. 

So  near,  in  fact,  seemed  my  exit,  that  a  novelist,  writing 
my  history,  would  have  availed  himself  of  the  circum- 
stance happily  to  terminate  his  first  volume,  and  to  leave 
me  irretrievably  for  dead  in  the  opinion  of  his  reader, 
until  my  unexpected  resurrection  at  the  beginning  of 
volume  the  second.  Writing  in  the  first  person,  I  cannot 
keep  my  friends  and  well-wishers  in  this  state  of  agree- 
able suspense,  or  conceal  from  them  one  single  moment 
that  I  lived  on  ;  but  it  was  for  some  time  in  such  wretclied- 
ness,  as  would  not  even  leave  the  most  fastidious  critic  any 
pretence  to  find  fault  with  such  a  proceeding.  One  man 
passed  by  me,  and  another,  and  another,  and  several 
stopped  and  looked  ;  but,  when  their  curiosity  was  satis- 
fied, all  went  on  again,  only  shrugging  up  their  shoulders. 
No  one  of  my  own  sex  offered  me  the  least  assistance. 
At  last  came  two  females.  For  several  minutes  ere  they 
reached  my  resting-place,  their  incessant  loquacity  had 
warned  me  of  their  approach ;  but  I  was  too  ill  to  look 
up,  and  had  closed  my  eyes.  "  Bless  me,"  said  the  one, 
"  I  see  something  alive  there !"  "  Bless  me,"  said  the 
other,  "  and  so  do  I !"  "  A  man !"  cried  the  first.  "  A 
handsome  youth  I  declare !"  cried  the  second.  "  Unwell," 
rejoined  the  little  one.  "  Dying,  I  fear,"  resumed  the  tall 
one.  "How  like  Anastasius,"  exclaimed  the  former! 
"  Himself,  as  I  live !"  replied  the  latter.  "  Then,  indeed," 
continued  the  other,  in  a  sagacious  whisper,  "  I  am  very 
much  afraid,  neighbour,  that  lie  is  not  dying,  but  only 
dead  drunk." — Enviable  effects  of  a  good  name  ! 

My  character  was  now  to  me  a  matter  of  life  and 
death. 

"  No,"  said  I,  therefore — making  an  effort  to  speak, 
but  in  a  scarce  audible  voice :— "  it  is  not  drunkenness 
that  oppresses  me  ;  it  is  suffering — it  is  starvation." 

At  this  speech,  the  women  botli  scream  out  in  astonish- 
ment ;  both  talk  at  the  same  time.  They  want  to  know 
the  how,  the  when,  the  where.  "  Tonnent  me  not  with 
questions,"  cried  1,  "  but  if  you  have  any  humanity,  get 
me  conveyed  to  St.  Demetrius.*     Pay  the  five  piastres 

*  St.  Demetrius— remote  suburb  of  Cqastantinople,  where  the  Greeks  have 
an  hospital. 


94    .  ANASTASIUS* 

required  for  my  admission  ;  and  expect  not  to  be  repaid 
in  this  world."     Saying  this,  I  again  fainted  away. 

The  fii-st  perception  which  followed  this  second  fit  was 
that  of  an  entirely  new  change  of  objects.  The  women 
had  succeeded  in  their  humane  endeavours,  and  I  was 
lying  under  a  filthy  coverlet,  on  a  filthy  pallet,  in  the  filthy 
hospital  in  question,  next  to  a  dead  man,  whose  pulse  the 
would-be  physician  of  the  place  was  just  in  the  act  of 
feeling,  assuring  some  bystanders  that  it  was  perfectly 
quiet,  and  no  longer  showed  any  symptoms  of  fever. 

I  shall  not  finish  the  picture  of  the  disgusting  abode, 
where,  nevertheless,  1  had  been  introduced  only  out  of 
sheer  humanity.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  under  its  tiuly 
hospitable  roof  every  nuisance  found  a  home,  medicine 
alone  excepted.  A  scanty  charity  was  the  chief  support 
of  the  institution,  and  an  unwieldy  governor  the  chief 
object  supported.  Yet,  after  a  fair  contest  between  my 
constitution  and  my  pleurisy,  in  which  neither  side  re- 
ceived the  least  assistance  from  doubtful  prescriptions, 
the  former  got  the  better.  The  father  of  nine  helpless 
orphans  expired  by  my  side,  and  I  recovered. 

It  was  during  my  convalescence  that  I  most  forcibly 
felt  all  the  wretchedness  of  my  receptacle :  it  was  during 
my  convalescence,  also,  that  I  most  fully  owned  my  un- 
worthiness  of  a  better.  "  But,"  cried  1,  tossing  about  on 
my  iiavd  coudi,"lhe  deadliest  poisons  compose  the  most 
salutiferous  medicines,  and  the  direst  calamities  produce 
the  best  resolves.  It  will  be  my  own  fault  if  I  rise  not 
from  this  bed  of  sickness  and  suffering,  both  wiser  and 
worthier !"  Thus  I  spoke  while  my  pulse  still  beat  low, 
and  my  passions  were  still  weak. 

At  last  came  the  day  which  I  fancied  would  never 
come — that  of  my  release  from  the  hospital.  It  dawned 
about  a  month  after  I  had  entered  the  dismal  place.  I 
sallied  forth  at  midday:  and  indescribable  was  the  rap- 
ture with  which  I  first  again  breathed  a  pure  air,  and 
beheld  the  whole  expanse  of  an  azure  sky. 

Still  was  I  as  much  as  ever  at  a  loss  how  to  subsist. 
Absorbed  in  this  weiglity  consideration,  I  slowly  walked 
down  the  hill  of  St.  Demetrius,  when  1  fancied  1  discerned 
at  a  distance  a  caravan  of  travellers,  who,  with  a  slow 
and  steady  pace,  were  advancing  towards  Pera,  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Franks  at  Constantinople.  I  mechanically 
quickened  my  pace,  in  order  to  survey  the  procession 
more  closely. 


ANASTASIUS.  95 

First  in  the  order  of  march  came  a  clumsy  calash, 
stowed  as  full  as  it  could  hold  of  wondering  travellers ; 
next  came  a  heavy  araba,*  loaded  with  as  many  trunks, 
portmanteaus,  parcels,  and  packages  as  it  could  well 
carry ;  and  lastly,  led  up  the  rear  a  grim-looking  Tartar,! 
keeping  order  among  half  a  dozen  Frank  servants  of  every 
description,  jogging  heavily  along  on  their  worn-out 
jades.  At  this  sight  the  droguemanic  blood  began  to 
speak  within  me.  "  These  are  strangers,  Anastasiiis,"  it 
whispered;  "  be  thou  their  interpreter,  and  thy  livelihood 
is  secured."  I  obeyed  the  inward  voice  as  an  inspira- 
tion from  heaven,  and,  after  smartening  myself  up  a  little, 
approached  the  first  carriage. 

"  Welcome  to  Pera,  excellencies  !"  said  I,  with  a  pro- 
found bow,  to  the  party  within.  At  these  words  up 
started  two  gaunt  figures  in  nightcaps,  with  spectacles  on 
their  noses  and  German  pipes  in  their  mouths,  wliose  re- 
spective corners  still  kept  mechanically  puffing  whiffs  of 
smoke  at  each  other.  The  first  action  which  followed  was 
to  lay  their  hands  on  the  blunderbusses  hung  round  the  car- 
riage ;  but  seeing  me  alone,  on  foot,  and  to  all  appearance 
not  very  formidable,  they  seemed  after  some  consultation 
to  think  they  might  venture  not  to  fire,  and  only  kept 
staring  at  me  in  profound  silence.  I  therefore  repeated 
my  salute  in  a  more  articulate  manner,  and  again  said, 
"  Welcome,  excellencies,  to  Pera,  where  you  are  most 
anxiously  expected.  As  you  will  probably  want  a  skilful 
interpreter,  give  me  leave  to  recommend  a  most  unexcep- 
tionable person — I  mean  myself.  Respectable  references, 
I  know,  are  indispensable  in  a  place  where  every  one  is 
on  the  watch  to  impose  upon  the  uuwai  y  traveller  ;  but 
such,  I  think,  I  can  name.  As  to  what  character  they 
may  give  me,  tliat,"  added  I,  with  a  modest  bow,  "  it  be- 
comes not  your  humble  servant  himself  to  state." 

At  so  Christian-like  a  speecli,  uttered  in  the  very  heart 
of  Turkey,  the  travellers  grinned  from  ear  to  ear  with 
delight.  It  produced  another  short  consultation ;  after 
which  the  two  chiefs  cried  out  in  chorus,  "  Oui  chai  pe- 
soin,''''  and  bade  me  mount  by  their  side.  This  enabled 
me,  after  a  little  compliment  on  Germany,  their  birth- 
place, and  on  their  proficiency  in  the  French  idiom,  im- 

*  Araba— Turkish  wagon. 

t  Tartar — the  Mohammedan  messengers  and  couriers,  in  the  service  of  the 
Porte  and  the  foreign  ministers  at  Constantinople,  are  called  Tartars,  as  the 
gate  porters  of  the  French  nobility  used  to  be  called  Suisscs,  from  their  original 
extraction. 


96  ANASTASIUS. 

mediately  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  my  office,  for  which 
I  thought  myself  sufficiently  qualified  by  the  squibs  which 
I  had  heard  the  drogueman  of  the  Porte,  Morosi,  let 
off  in  company  with  my  patron  at  the  diplomatic  corps 
of  Pera. 

"  This  edifice,"  said  I,  pointing  to  the  first  building  of 
note  in  the  suburb  which  we  met  on  our  way,  "  is  the 
palace  of  the  ich-oglans — the  sultan's  pages.  It  is  the 
most  fruitful  seminary  of  favourites,  of  pashas,  and  of 
sultains'  husbands.*  In  that  direction  lives  that  most 
respectable  of  characters,  the  imperial  internuncio,!  the 
Baron  Herbert ;  who,  with  all  the  shrewdness  of  a 
thorougli-paced  minister,  combines  all  the  playful  sim- 
plicity of  a  child.  Further  on  dwells  the  French  ambas- 
sador. Monsieur  de  Choiseul  Gouffier — a  very  great  man 
in  little  things ;  and  opposite  him  lives  his  antagonist  in 
taste,  politics,  and  country,  the  English  envoy.  Sir  Robert 
Ainslie,  of  whom  the  world  maintains  exactly  the  re- 
verse. Quite  at  the  bottom  of  the  street,  likewise  facing 
each  other,  live  the  envoys  of  Russia  and  of  Sweden.f 
The  lormer  I  feel  bound  to  respect,  whatever  be  his 
merit ;  tlie  latter  really  possesses  mu(;h.  He  is  an  Arme- 
nian, who  writes  in  French  a  history  of  Turkey.  Lately 
he  has  made  with  his  bookseller  an  exchange  profitable 
to  both,  he  having  given  his  manuscript,  and  the  other 
his  daughter;  that  is  to  say,  tlie  Armenian  a  single  volu- 
minous work,  and  the  Frenchman  a  brief  epitome  of  his 
whole  shop.  Wedged  in  between  the  palaces  of  Spain 
and  Portugal  is  that  of  the  Dutch  ambassador,  whose 
name,  VandcndiddfMn-totgelder,"^  is  almost  too  long  for 
these  short  autunui  days,  and  whose  head  is  thought  to 
be  almost  as  long  as  his  name ;  inasmuch  as  he  regularly 
receives  twice  a- week  the  Leyden  Gazette,  wliich  renders 
him  beyond  all  controversy  the  best  informed  of  the 
whole  Christian  corps  diplomatique  in  respect  of  Turkish 
politics.     You  see,  geiulemen,  the  representatives  of  all 

*  Siili.inas'  husbands— the  sultan's  sisters  and  daughters,  whom,  conse- 
quently, \u;  cannot  espouse,  are  alone  called  sultanas;  his  wives  or  concu- 
bines never  assume  that  title,  which  belonjjs  exclusively  to  the  imperial  blood. 

t  Internuncio— title  given  to  the  Austrian  minister  at  Constantinople,  in 
order  to  avoid  conflicts  of  etiquette.  Baron  Herbert  Rathkeal  was  eijually 
venerated  by  Turks  and  by  Christians. 

+  Envoy  of  Sweden— Moura<li;ea  d'Odhson  ;  an  Armenian  by  birth,  oritrin- 
ally  drogueman  to  the  Swedish  mission,  and  author  oC  a  celebrated  work  on 
the  Othoman  empire. 

$  Atiastasius  sometimes  spells  Frank  names  as  incorrectly  as  probably  his 
editor  spells  his  Turkish  names;  on  inquiry  I  find  that  of  the  gentleman  in 
qaeation  to  be  Vandcn  Dedem  tot  Gelder. 


ANASTASIUS.  07 

Ihe  potentates  of  Christendom,  from  Petersburg  to  Lis- 
bon, and  from  Stockholm  to  Naples,  are  here  penned  up 
together  in  this  single  narrow  street,  where  they  have  the 
advantage  of  living  as  lar  as  possible  from  the  Turks 
among  whom  they  come  to  reside,  and  of  watching  all 
day  long  the  motions  of  their  own  colleagues,  from  their 
most  distuiit  journeys  to  the  yublime  Porto,  to  their  most 
ordinary  visits  to  the  recesses  at  the  bottom  of  their 
gardens." 

Tliese  little  specimens  of  my  savoir-dire  seemed  to 
please  my  German  friends.  They  immediately  noted 
them  down  in  their  huge  memorandum-books,  which,  no 
more  than  their  short  pipes,  ever  were  left  idle  an  instant. 
Scarce  had  the  party  stepped  into  the  inn  which  1  was 
allowed  to  recommend,  when  they  engaged  me  for  the 
whole  fortnight  which  they  meant  to  devote  to  the  survey 
of  the  Turkish  capital. 

My  ti  avellers  were  of  the  true  inquisitive  sort.  Every- 
body used  to  fly  at  their  approach,  a  circumstance  highly 
favourable  to  my  interest.  Under  the  notion  of  always 
applying  for  information  to  the  fountain-head,  they  would 
stop  liie  surliest  Turk  they  met,  to  ask  why  Moslemen 
locked  up  their  women.  One  day  they  begged  the  impe- 
rial minister,  at  his  own  table,  to  tell  them  confidentially 
whether  Austria  was  to  be  trusted.  They  were  very 
solicitous  to  know  from  the  Russian  envoy  the  number 
of  Catiiariiie's  lovers,  and  they  pressed  hard  for  an  audi- 
ence of  the  kislar-aga,*  only  to  inquire  whence  came  the 
best  black  eunuchs.  Had  they  been  in  company  with 
the  grand  mufti,  they  certainly  would  have  asked  his 
honest  opinion  of  the  mission  of  Mohammed;  and  they 
would  scarcely  have  neglected  tlie  opportunity,  had  it 
oftered,  of  inquiring  of  the  sultan  himself  whether  he 
was  legitimate  heir  to  tlie  califale,  as  he  asserted.  In 
consequence  of  this  straight-forward  system,  I  was  every 
moment  obliged  to  interfere,  and  to  pledge  myself  for 
the  guiltless  intentions  of  our  travellers.  The  statis- 
ti(;s  of  the  empire,  its  government,  politics,  finances,  «&c., 
indeed,  they  troubled  themselves  little  about.  All  such 
things  they  thought  they  could  learn  much  more  compen- 
diously at  home  from  the  Leipsic  Gazetteer;  but  the 
botany  and  mineralogy  of  the  country  were  what  they 

*  KisIar-aga — chipf  of  tlie  black  eunuchs  ;  a  persoitag«  of  vast  power  end 
patroiiafie  in  the  Turkish  empire;  as  he  has  the  aihiiiiiistralloii  of  all  ibO  reli- 
gious foundations,  of  which  the  revenues  are  immense. 
Vol.  L— E 


98  ANASTA3IIJS. 

studied  both  body  and  soul.  Every  day  we  brought  home 
from  our  excursions  such  heaps  of  what  the  ignorant 
chose  to  call  hay  and  stones,  that  the  wags  whom  we  met 
on  our  way  used  to  ask  us  wlielher  these  were  for  food 
and  lodging,  while  the  more  fanatical  among  the  Turks 
swore  we  carried  away  patterns  of  the  country  in  order 
to  sell  it  to  the  infidels ;  and  one  party,  by  way  of  giving 
us  eiiougli  of  what  we  wsnted,  was  near  stoning  us  to 
death.  Hereupon,  to  elude  observation,  my  cunning 
travellers  determined  to  dress  after  the  country  fashion ; 
but  this  only  made  bad  worse  ;  for  they  wore  their  new 
garb  so  awkwardly,  that  the  natives  began  to  think  they 
put  it  on  in  mockery,  and  were  frequently  near  stripping 
them  to  the  skin;  independent  of  which,  whenever  they 
went  out  they  got  so  entangled  in  their  shaksheers*  and 
trousers,  their  shawls,  and  their  papooshes,  that  our  pro- 
gress niiglit  be  traced  by  the  mere  relics  of  their  habili- 
ments which  strewed  the  road.  Sole  manager  both  of 
the  home  and  foreign  department,  I  liowever  tried  to  give 
all  possil)le  respectability  to  their  appearance,  and  never 
would  suff(!r  their  dignity  to  be  committed  by  paltry  sav- 
ings; at  the  same  time,  to  show  them  how  careful  I  was 
of  their  money,  I  took  care  sometimes  to  detain  them  an 
hour  or  two  in  driving  a  close  bargain  al)out  a  few  paras, 
especially  when  I  saw  them  in  a  hurry.  Accordingly,  if 
tliey  had  any  fault  to  find  with  me,  it  was  for  my  over- 
scrupulous economy.  That  failing  alone  excepted,  they 
tliought  me  a  treasure;  and  so  1  certaiidy  found  them. 

Tlie  fortnight  of  their  intended  stay  having  elapsed, 
they  were  all  impatience  to  depart.  Out  of  pure  regard 
for  scien(;e,  I  contrived  to  prolong  their  sojourn  another 
fortnight  by  various  little  delays,  whicii,  with  a  little  in- 
dustry, 1  brouglit  about  in  the  most  natural  way  imagin- 
able, but  whi(;h  I  joined  them  in  lamenting  exceedingly; 
and  when  at  last  lliey  set  off,  which  I  saw  with  very  sin- 
cere regret,  I  was  left  by  them  in  possession  of  a  most 
flattering  writtfiii  testin)oniai  of  my  zeal  and  fidelity.  As 
to  their  bcliaviour  to  me,  its  liberality  niiglit  he  suiTntiently 
inferrf'd  from  the  cliange  in  my  appearance.  1  looked  a 
difi^rent  person. 

Tills  first  experiment  grave  me  a  taste  for  tlie  tergiu- 
manic  life.  It  also  incnrased  my  means  of  success  in 
that  line.     Until  I  tO(jk  up  my  residence  at  Pera,  I  had 

♦  Shakshe'T— the  folds  of  lliis  nelher  garment  are  so  amjilc  as  to  make  It 
look  like  a  petticoat. 


ANASTASIUS.  99 

little  intercourse  with  that  odd  race  of  people  yclept 
Franks,  except  through  the  stray  specimens  that  now  and 
then  crossed  the  harbour  on  a  visit  of  curiosity  or  busi- 
ness to  Constantinople.  I  now  got  acquainted  with  their 
ways,  while  they  became  familiarized  with  my  person. 
This  gradually  procured  me  the  advantage  of  seeing  and 
serving  in  my  new  capacity  samples  of  almost  every  na- 
tion of  Europe.  Thus  I  formed  a  sort  of  polyglot  col- 
lection of  certificates  of  my  own  ability  and  merits,  which 
I  filed  very  neatly  according  to  the  order  of  their  dates, 
and  to  a  sight  of  which  1  treated  every  new  comer  whom 
1  thought  worthy  of  that  distinction. 

Once,  however,  the  lofty  manner  and  the  imperious 
tone  of  an  English  traveller,  newly  arrived,  completely 
deceived  me.  From  his  fastidiousness,  I  made  no  doubt 
I  was  addressing  some  great  mylordo.  It  was  a  button- 
maker  to  whom  I  had  the  honour  of  bowing.  He  came 
red-hot  from  a  place  called  Birmingham,  to  show  the 
Turks  samples  of  his  manufacture.  Unfortunately,  Turks 
wear  no  buttons,  at  least  such  as  he  dealt  in ;  at  which 
discovery  he  felt  exceedingly  wrath.  My  ill-fated  back 
was  de.stined  to  feel  the  first  brunt  of  his  ill-humour. 
After  spending  nearly  two  hours  in  spelling  every  word 
of  eveiy  one  of  my  certificates,  "  This,  then,"  said  he,  in 
a  scarce  intelligible  idiom  which  he  fancied  to  be  French, 
"  is  the  evidence  of  your  deserts  V  "  It  is,"  answered  I, 
with  an  inclination  of  the  head.  "And  I  am  to  make  it 
the  rule  of  my  behaviour?"  "If  your  excellency  be 
pleased  to  have  that  goodness,"  replied  I,  smirking  most 
agreeably.  "Very  well,"  resumed  the  traitor,  never 
moving  a  muscle  of  his  insipid  countenance,  "  my  excel- 
lency will  have  that  goodness."  And  up  he  gets,  gravely 
walks  without  uttering  another  syllable  to  the  door,  turns 
the  key  in  the  lock,  takes  a  little  bit  of  a  pistol  scarce  five 
inches  long  (also  from  Birmingham,  1  suppose)  out  of  his 
pocket,  snatches  up  a  cudgel  as  thick  as  my  wrist,  and 
turning  short  upon  me,  who  stood  wondering  in  \vh;it  this 
strange  prelude  was  to  end,  holds  the  pistol  to  my  throat, 
and  lays  the  cane  across  my  back. 

This  operation  performed  to  his  satisfaction — "  It  was 
No.  5,"  coolly  said  the  miscreant,  "  whose  contents  I 
thought  it  right  to  comply  with,  first;  as  being  written 
by  one  of  my  countrymen,  and  because  1  make  it  a  rule, 
in  every  species  of  business  to  get  the  worst  part  over  first. 
Had  you  understood  our  language — as  an  interpreter  by 
1:2 


100  ANASTASIUS. 

profession  ought — you  might  have  known  the  certificate 
in  question  to  be  a  solemn  adjuration  to  all  the  writer's 
countrymen,  to  treat  you  as  1  have  had  the  pleasure  of 
doing;  and  all  that  remains  for  you  to  perform,is,togive 
me  a  regular  receipt,  such  as  I  may  have  to  show." 

The  pistol  was  still  tickling  my  throat— I  jammed  up 
against  the  wall,  and  the  button-maker  six  feet  high,  and 
as  strong  as  a  horse.  All,  therefore,  I  coifld  do,  in  the 
way  of  heroism,  would  have  been,  to  have  let  him  blow 
out  my  brains  at  once  ;— after  which,  adieu  my  turn,  at 
least,  here  below  !  I  therefore  signed,  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  the  receipt  neatly  folded  up  and  deposited  in  a 
little  red  morocco  pocket-book,  with  silver  clasps;  was 
offered  a  sequin  for  the  exercise  I  had  afforded ;  took  the 
money,  and  leaving  the  button-maker  to  write  home  what 
mean  rascals  the  Greeks  were,  departed,  fully  impressed 
with  the  usefulness  of  learning  languages. 

Almost  every  evening,  the  man  of  buttons  used  to 
walk  from  Pera,  where  he  had  his  lodgings,  to  a  mer- 
chant's at  Galata,  from  whence  he  frequently  returned 
home  pretty  late  at  night,  without  any  escort;  trusting 
to  liis  small  pocket  instrument  and  lo  his  own  colossal 
stature  for  his  safety.  A  dexterous  thrust  at  an  unex- 
pected turn  might  easily  have  sent  him  to  the  shades  be- 
low ;  but  this  would  n"ot  have  sufficed  to  assuage  my 
thirst  for  just  revenge.  I  wished  lo  intlicl  a  shame,  more 
deep,  more  lasting  than  my  own,  and  which,  like  Frome- 
thens's  vulture,  should  kee[)  gnawing  tlie  traitor's  heart 
while  he  lived.  His  great  ambition  at  Constantinople 
was,  lo  boast  the  good  graces  of  some  Tuikish  female — 
young  or  old,  fair  or  u<rly,  no  matter!  On  this  laudable 
wish  I  foinided  my  scheme. 

Muffled  up  in  the  feridjee  which  entirely  covers  the 
figure  of  the  Mohammedan  fair,  and  the  veil  which  con- 
ceals their  faces,  1  went  and  seateii  myself,  immediately 
after  dusk,  on  one  of  the  tombstones  of  the  extensive 
cemetery  of  (ialata,  where  my  traveller  had  to  pass. 

He  soon  arrived  ;  an<l,  as  I  expected,  stopped  lo  survey 
the  lonely  fair  one,  whose  a[)pHarance  seemed  lo  invite  a 
coniforler.  'I'hebait  took.  My  fiiend,  on  his  nearer  ap- 
proach, aware  that  iiis  pantomime  was  more  intelligible 
than  his  idiom,  iiad  recourse  to  the  miiversal  language: 
he  held  up  a  sequin — his  reirular  fee  on  all  occasions — 
and  my  acceplarute  of  which  encourages  my  shepherd  to 
become  move  enterprising.    He  now  wishes  to  unveil  me. 


AXASTASIUS.  101 

I  resist : — but  by  way  of  compromise  for  keeping  con- 
cealed my  features,  1  show  my  necklace,  my  bracelets, 
my  girdle.  In  an  infantine  manner,  I  slip  the  manacles 
from  my  own  wrists  over  those  of  my  companion ;  and,  be- 
fore his  suspicions  are  aroused,  have  the  satisfHciion  to  see 
him  fast  bound  in  chains,  not  only  of  airy  love,  but  of  good 
solid  brass;  and,  with  a  soft  lisp,  wish  him  joy  of  being 
at  once  handcuffed  and  pinioned.  It  was  now  I  showed 
my  face,  and  drew  out  my  handjar.*  Seeing  him  dis- 
posed to  remonstrate,  "  No  noise,"  cried  I,  "  or  you  die ; 
but  return  me  the  receipt."  Unable  to  stir,  my  prisoner, 
in  a  surly  tone,  bade  me  take  it  myself.  I  did  so,  and 
thanked  him  ;  "  But,"  added  I,  "  as  we  have  not  here,  as 
with  you,  all  the  conveniences  for  writing,  accept  the 
acknowledgment  of  the  poor  and  illiterate :"  saying  which, 
I  drew  the  holy  mark  of  tlie  cross,  after  the  Greek  form, 
neatly,  but  indelibly,  with  the  button-maker's  own  se- 
quin, on  his  clumsy  forehead ;  poured  into  the  wound 
some  of  the  gunpowder  out  of  his  pouch;  and  apologiz- 
ing for  the  poorness  of  the  entertainment,  bade  him  good 
night,  and  walked  off. 

A  troop  of  caleondjees  of  my  acquaintance,  reeling 
home  from  a  tavern,  happened  to  come  up  just  as  I  re- 
tired, and  took  all  that  I  had  left.  The  next  morning 
the  man  of  buttons  departed  from  Constantinople,  with- 
out sound  of  trumpet,  before  sunrise ;  and  never  since  has 
been  heard  of  in  the  Turkish  dominions. 

This  little  frolic  at  the  expense  of  the  English  shop- 
keeper recommended  me  to  a  French  chevalier,  come  to 
Stambool  on  a  visit  to  his  kinsman,  the  ambassador. 
The  lively  young  gentleman  swore  he  wanted  no  other 
certificate  of  my  character  besides  my  prowess.  His  ob- 
ject in  undertaking  the  long  journey  to  Turkey  seemed 
to  be,  to  play  on  the  guitar,  and  to  compose  French  love- 
songs.  Twice  a  week  a  messenger  of  the  embassy  was 
despatched  to  Paris  with  M.  de  Vial's  effusions,  in  order 
that  his  friends  at  home  might  see  how  he  employed 
his  time  abroad.  Par  co/iire,  he  had  determined,  as  soon 
as  he  returned  to  France,  and  found  himself  at  leisure,  to 
write  a  detailed  account  of  Turkey— rather,  however,  as 
it  ought  to  be,  than  as  it  was.  For  M.  de  Vial  disap- 
proved of  the  Othoman  system  in  toto :  and  hence,  he 
deemed  it  sheer  loss  of  time  to  visit  the  curiosities  of  its 

*  Handjar— Turkish  poniard. 


102  ANASTASIUS. 

capital.  The  only  thing  he  could  have  liked — had  he  not 
been  too  bus}'  learning  the  romeika — was  an  affaire  de 
cceur  with  tlie  favourite  sultana ;  and  for  a  lung  while 
he  continued  exceedingly  anxious  to  give  the  ladies  of 
the  imperial  liarem  a  fete  on  the  Black  Sea;  but  that 
project  failing,  from  their  sending  no  answers  to  his 
notes,  he  wondered  who  could  bear  tlie  dowdies  of  Con- 
stantinople that  had  seen  the  Trois  Sultanes  of  Marmon- 
tel  at  the  Paris  opera.  In  truth,  M.  de  Vial  had  no 
patience  with  the  barbarians.  Their  language  was  a 
gibberish,  ou  Comi'entenduit  rien;  and  they  had  so  little 
savoir  vivre,  that  they  let  their  heads  be  chopped  oft' like 
cabbage-tops.  Desirous,  however,  of  treating  them  to  a 
sight  of  the  last  Paris  fashions,  he  decked  out  his  jiether 
man  in  pea-green  coloured  cloth,  and  got  himself  chas- 
tised by  a  hot-headed  emir,*  for  thus  profaning  the  for- 
bidden colour — almost  too  sacred,  with  the  Turks,  for  the 
head  itself.  In  his  turn,  M.  de  Vial  sent  the  cousin  of -Mo- 
hammed a  challenge,  with  which  the  emir  lighted  Jiis  pipe. 
At  last,  after  a  wliole  day  nselcssly  employed  in  ogling  the 
sultana  mother  through  a  huge  telescope  from  the  tower 
of  Galata,  tlie  chevalier  felt  seized  with  a  desperate  fit  of 
ennui,  laid  in  a  reasonable  stock  of  embroidered  hand- 
kerchiefs, to  throw  to  the  Paris  belles  after  a  Turkish 
fashion,  which  the  Turks  know  nothing  of,  and  deter- 
mined to  bid  adieu  to  Pera.  My  services  and  talents  he 
transferred,  ere  he  went,  to  a  flaxen-headed  Swedish  baron, 
whose  ruddy  face  had  inflamed  the  susceptible  heart 
of  the  droguemaness  of  the  Venetian  mission,  and  who 
was  so  highly  favoured  by  his  doting  mistress,  that  every 
night  slie  allowed  liim  to  pay  her  whole  loss  at  tresette. 
This  lady  was  an  uncommon  proficient  in  writing.  Proud 
of  an  accomplishment  which  so  few  of  her  colleagues 

Eossessed,  she  used  every  morning  to  fire  at  her  lover  a 
ttle  billet-doux  of  three  or  four  pages.  These  refresh- 
ing epistles  I  came  to  call  for  as  regularly  as  for  the  water 
from  the  well,  the  moment  the  husband  was  supposed 
to  have  gone  forth  to  tlie  reis-effendee,  with  the  scarce 
shorter  memorials  of  the  Serenissima  Republica — at  that 
period  any  thing  but  serene.  This  same  husband,  though 
only  four  feet  high,  presumed  to  be  jealous ;  and  the  cor- 

«  Emir,  or  Shereef— names  given  to  Ihe  desirendants  of  Mohammed's  dauirh- 
ter,  who  in  every  city  of  the  ern[)ire  have  their  own  distinct  tribunals,  and  the 
exclusive  privilege  of  wearing  lurhiins  of  the  prophet's  favourite  colour,  green ; 
with  which  it  would  be  a  prvlanation  to  adorn  an  inferior  part  of  the  bodjr. 


ANASTASIUS.  103 

respondence,  therefore,  was  to  be  kept  from  his  know- 
ledg-e — a  circumstance  which  rendered  ray  office  of  Mer- 
cury an  employment  of  some  trust. 

I  acted  accordingly.  Tired  of  being  postman  without 
pay,  I  one  day  hinted  to  the  lady  that  I  should  expect 
some  species  of  acknowledgment  for  my  trouble.  Mad- 
ame P i  was  one  of  tiiose  fair  ones  for  whom  Cupid 

must  tip  his  dart  with  gold,  or  they  recoil  unfelt.  She  re- 
sented my  freedom,  called  me  a  low-born  fellow,  and  for- 
bade me  her  presence.  The  tide  of  amorous  billets  now 
ceased  to  flow  for  want  of  a  channel.  Nothing  but  my 
forgiveness  of  the  insult  could  make  it  resume  its  course. 
On  the  part  of  the  lady,  accordingly,  advances  were  soon 
made  towards  a  reconciliation,  and  on  mine  every  spark 
of  resentment  was  magnanimously  extuiguished  until 
further  occasion.  I  saw  myself  reinstated  formally  in 
my  daily  office. 

The  hyperborean  lover — not  quite  so  brisk  a  corres- 
pondent as  his  mistress — used  to  answer  about  one  letter 
in  three  or  four.  This,  however,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
weeks,  began  to  form  a  very  respectable  nnllection.  The 
pink-edged  perfumed  epistles— regularly  endorsed— were 
all  deposited  by  the  delighted  droguemaness  in  a  little 
mother-of-peari  casket,  which  she  kept,  for  the  benefit  of 
her  heirs,  by  the  side  of  her  reliquary.  From  one  of  those 
strange  incidents  which  will  happen  in  the  course  of 
things,  this  casket,  though  most  carefully  locked  up,  fell 
into  my  hands  ;  but  no  similar  incident  could  conjure  the 
key  out  of  the  lady's  pocket.  She  used  to  sleep  with  it 
imder  her  pillow,  in  order  to  obtain  pleasant  dieams.  It 
mattered  little :  I  had  no  sort  of  curiosity  to  peruse  the 
correspondence.  1  contented  myself  with  carefully  wrap- 
ping up  the  box,  sealing  tiie  cover,  and  begging  the  signer 
drogueman — that  is  to  say,  the  lady's  husband — to  keep 
the  "parcel  in  trust  for  me,  as  most  valuable  property,  and 
such  as  could  not  be  coinmitted  to  fitter  hands.  The  rod 
thus  kept  suspended  over  his  faithless  spouse,  the  reward 
of  my  discretion,  past  and  future,  was  demanded  of  hei 
with  "becoming  humility;  and,  to  do  the  lady  justice, 
when  she  found  that  no  other  way  of  extricating  herself 
was  left,  she  showed  every  readiness  to  listen  to  the 
voice  of  reason. 

By  some  accident,  however,  the  baron  got  wind  of 
these  transactions;  and  so  far  from  feeling  flattered,  as 
he  ought  to  have  been,  with  the  anxiety  which  his  mis- 


104  ANASTASIUS. 

tress  evinced  to  recover  his  letters,  he  had  the  ingrati- 
tude to  cavil  about  the  mode  ;  and  left  the  fair  one  to  find 
what  consolation  she  could,  in  the  reperusal  of  his  cor- 
respondence. I  speedily  followed  his  example,  and  re- 
tired in  my  turn ;  leavnig  the  droguemaness  punished 
alike  in  her  pride  and  her  avarice. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

No  sooner  had  my  various  little  trades  rendered  me  a 
person  of  some  substance  than  I  began  to  thuik  of  pur- 
chasing a  berath  :* — I  mean  one  of  those  patents  of  ex- 
emption from  the  rigour  of  Turkish  despotism  which  the 
sultan  originally  granted  to  foreign  ministers,  in  behalf 
only  of  such  rayahs  as  they  had  occasion  to  engage  in 
their  immediate  service,  but  which  these  excellent  econo- 
mists now  readily  sell  to  whatever  other  subjects  of  the 
grand  signor  are  disposed  to  pay  the  current  price  of  the 
article.  To  a  youth  like  ine  it  was  highly  desirable  to 
possess  a  paper  through  whose  magic  power  a  native 
might,  in  the  very  capital  of  his  natural  sovereign,  outstep 
the  limits  of  his  jurisdiction,  brave  his  authority,  put  him- 
self on  the  footing  of  a  stranger,  and,  from  being  hereto- 
fore an  Armenian  or  a  Greek,  at  once  find  himself  trans- 
formed into  a  reputed  Italian,  or  German,  or  Frenchman, 
wear  the  gaudiest  colours  in  competition  with  the  Turks 
themselves,  and  strut  about  the  streets  in  that  summuin 
honuin,  a  pair  of  yellow  papooshes. 

The  tiling  had  been  put  into  my  head  by  an  Italian  mis- 
sionary of  the  Propaganda,  who,  considering  me  as  a  sort 
of  stray  from  the  Greeks,  had  determined  to  stow  me 
safely  within  the  pale  of  the  Romans.  On  first  perceiving 
his  drift,  I  gave  liis  pious  exertions  small  encouragement : 
observing,  tliat  early  habits,  as  well  of  belief  as  of  action, 
could  only  be  rooted  out  later  in  life,  either  by  the  most 
irresistible  arguments,  or  the  most  palpable  interest  to 
adopt  difiierent  tenets.     To  this  remark  the  missionary 

*  Berattx— foreign  ministfirs  twing  often  obliged  to  employ  rayahs  as  their 
domestics,  originally  obtained  for  them  regular  patents  of  exemption  from  the 
jurisdiction  of  tlie  I'orte,  which  they  now  find  it  more  profitable  to  sell  to 
rayahs  not  their  servants. 


ANASTASIUS.  105 

only  replied  that  he  had  a  very  general  acquaintance  at 
Pera;  and  consequently,  possessed  many  opportunities 
of  recommending  a  well-disposed  youth  to  travellers. 
The  observation  was  in  point.  Impressed. with  its  full 
weight,  I  began  to  indulge  Padre  Ambrogio,  whenever  I 
happened  to  be  out  of  place,  in  a  little  conference  on  tlie 
disputed  articles ;  and  for  every  Greek  variation  from  the 
Latin  creed  which  I  yielded  up,  he  used  to  find  me  a  new 
situation.  Unfortunately,  the  discussion  of  the  Greek 
liturgy  ran  so  parallel  witli  that  of  the  Siguora  P — i's  cor- 
respondence, and  the  interviews  with  the  friar  were  so 
interwoven  with  those  of  the  lady,  that  I  sometimes  con- 
founded the  two  subjects,  and  more  than  once,  in  a  fit  of 
absence,  let  Padre  Ambrogio  into  the  mysteries  of  my 
negotiation,  instead  of  learning  from  him  those  of  his 
faith.  The  ghostly  conferences,  however,  only  ceased 
entirely  when  the  friar  very  nefariously  disappointed  me, 
in  favour  of  another  neophyte,  of  an  excellent  employ- 
ment, for  which  I  had  sacrificed  the  whole  procession 
according  to  the  Greeks.  Hearing  of  this  flagrant  act 
of  bad  faith,  I  called  upon  him  in  a  very  great  passion  ; 
told  him  I  again  disbelieved  all  that  he  had  enticed  me 
to  believe  ;  and  leaving  him  exceedingly  dismayed  at  my 
unexpected  rebellion,  went  to  dispel  the  confusion  in  my 
head  by  a  walk  on  the  road  to  Dolma-backtche. 

The  snow,  which  had  lain  several  days  on  tlie  ground, 
having  entirely  disappeared,  I  met  several  people  taking 
the  air;  but  who  all  looked,  I  thought,  as  if  like  me  they 
had  been  bewildered  by  some  friar  or  derwish.  At  last 
came  a  Turkish  woman  of  rank,  accompanied  by  a  long 
train  of  females.  The  pavement  being  narrow,  I  stood 
up  against  the  wall  to  let  her  pass.  As  she  brushed  by 
me,  her  hand  gently  pressing  against  the  back  of  mine, 
gave  me  reason  to  think  that  1  had  not  been  unnoticed. 
A  gay  adventure  seldom  found  me  slow  to  engage  in  it, 
be  what  it  might  the  peril  of  the  enterprise.  1  therefore 
let  the  lively  group  trot  on  a  few  yards,  and  then  turned 
back  hastily  myself,  in  the  manner  of  a  person  who  recol- 
lects having  left  something  behind. 

Thus,  without  casting  right  or  left  a  single  glance  which 
might  savour  of  design,  I  gave  the  lady  an  opportunity 
of  minutely  scrutinizing  my  appearance,  should  she  be 
disposed  to  cultivate  my  merits.  That  done,  I  crossed 
over  to  the  other  side,  and  stole  away  into  a  by-lane,  for 
fear  of  rousing  the  suspicions  of  her  suite. 
E  3 


106  ANASTASIUS. 

The  next  day,  however,  I  failed  not,  at  the  same  hour, 
to  take  a  walk  in  the  same  street,  and  again  did  the  same 
the  next  day,  and  the  next ;  in  the  full  expectation,  each 
time,  of  meeting  with  some  faithful  Iris,  commissioned  to 
give  me  the  verbal  assurance  of  my  good  fortune. 

During  a  whole  week  my  punctuality  continued  with- 
out the  least  abatement.  As  sure  as  the  clock  struck  one 
I  used  to  sally  forth,  and  display  my  handsomely  attired 
person  before  every  woman,  young  or  old,  fair  or  ugly, 
that  bore  the  least  appearance  of  coming  on  my  business. 
Vain  and  fruitless  diligence  !  The  busier  females  passed 
on  without  noticing  my  disconsolate  figure  at  all ;  the  less 
diligent  baggages,  who  remarked  my  airs  and  graces,  only 
answered  them  with  laughing.  Some,  who  had  become 
familiar  with  my  forlorn  perambulations,  ironically  pitied 
me  for  the  cruelty  of  my  mistress.  It  was  worse  when 
two  or  three  goules  that  haunted  the  same  street  seriously 
undertook  to  console  me  under  my  disappointment,  and 
put  me  in  the  greatest  fright,  lest,  by  their  unconcealed 
advances  in  the  broad  glare  of  day,  tliey  should  drive  away 
any  messenger  of  love  that  might  be  on  the  wing. 

At  last  I  lost  all  patience,  and  was  going  in  good  ear- 
nest to  execute  the  resolution  fifty  times  solemnly  taken, 
and  as  often  again  broken,  of  giving  up  the  vain  pursuit ; 
when  just  as  for  the  last  time  I  paced  down  the  oft-trodden 
street,  looking  anxiously  round  on  all  sides,  to  see  what 
good  ti(hngs  might  still  be  in  the  wind,  I  perceived  a 
Jewess — seemingly  equally  on  the  alert  with  myself — 
who  eyed  me  with  a  promising  air.  I  coughed  once  or 
twice  ;  and  this  signal  inducing  the  old  dame  to  approach, 
we  opened  a  parly.  My  answers  tallying  with  her  private 
tokens,  she  soon  became  confidential. 

"  You  must  know,"  said  she,  "  I  am  a  tradeswoman, 
one  who  goes  about  to  ladies'  houses  to  provide  them 
with" — 

"  What  signifies,  my  dear,"  cried  I,  interrupting  her, 
*'  what  you  are,  and  what  you  provide  your  customers 
■with  1  That  speaks  for  itself.  Only  tell  me  who  the  lady 
is  who  graciously  condescends  to  make  me  the  object  of 
your  embassy." 

"  The  lady,"  answered  the  Jewess,  "  is  the  young  wife 
of  an  old  Turkish  effendee  of  very  high  rank.  Her  own 
birth  and  fortune  made  her  parents  stipulate  that  her 
spouse  should  have  no  other  wife  but  herself.  Nor  has 
he ;  but  while  he  adheres  to  the  letter  of  the  agreement, 


ANASTASlT'"*  107 

he  violates  its  spirit. — In  short,  he  totally  neglects  his 
handsome  helpmate.  This  the  fair  Esme  properly  re- 
sent-i — and — " 

"  And  in  me,"  cried  I,  interrupting  my  informer,  "  she 
shall  find  the  avenger  she  deserves.  Let  us  forthwith 
go!" 

"  Gently,  gently,"  now  whispered  the  old  beldam.  "  It 
is  not  thus  that  matters  of  this  sort  are  conducted.  If 
the  lady  by  whom  I  have  the  honour  of  being  employed 
were  one  of  your  ordinary  women,  on  whom  the  wind 
blows  as  freely  as  on  ihe  weeds  of  the  desert,  all  would 
be  easy  enough.  Females  who  go  out  at  all  hours  to  tlie 
bath,  and  to  the  market  place,  and  to  the  bezesteen,  or  to 
visit  their  friends,  do  whatever  they  please.  But  Cadin 
Esme  is  none  of  those,  I'll  warrant  you.  This  exalted  fair 
one  has  in  her  own  apartment  baths  of  marble  and  gold ; 
twenty  slaves  are  always  ready  at  her  nod  to  execute 
whatever  whim  may  cross  her  fancy ;  the  richest  goods 
of  every  country  are  all  spread  out  before  her  at  her  toilet; 
her  own  chamber  opens  on  gardens  whose  roses  make 
those  of  Sheeraz  look  pale,  in  short— poor  thing! — she 
can  find  nothing  to  want  abroad,  and  when  she  does  go 
out,  it  seems  rather  for  the  sole  purpose  of  seeing  how 
superior  is  all  that  she  leaves  at  home.  Then  she  gene- 
rally only  travels  about  in  a  close  carriage.  Her  visits  are 
confined  to  two  or  three  of  her  near  relations ;  and  she  so 
seldom  finds  an  excuse  for  stirring  out  on  foot,  that  the 
day  you  met  her  was  the  first  time  these  six  months  she 
had  stepped  across  her  own  threshold.  Even  when  she 
indulges  in  a  little  excuision  of  the  sort,  she  only  moves, 
as  you  see,  accompanied  by  a  swarm  of  servants,  or  rather 
of  spies." 

"  You  only  add  fuel  to  my  flame,"  cried  I.  "  The  more 
difficult  the  enterprise,  the  nobler  the  victory !" — and  im- 
mediately we  fell  to  discussing  the  ways  and  means.  A 
hundred  diff"erent  schemes  were  alternately  proposed  and 
rejected.  At  last  a  contrivance  was  hit  upon,  only  liable 
to  half  a  dozen  radical  objections.  Still  it  was  the  best, 
and  therefore  adopted.  A  friend  of  the  Jewess's,  equipped 
as  a  woman  of  rank,  was  to  spend  the  day  on  a  visit  to 
the  Lady  Esme,  whose  husband  could  not,  during  that 
period,  intrude  upon  the  privacy  of  his  wife's  apartment. 
Esme  would  thus  obtain  an  opportunity  of  slipping  out  in 
the  attire  of  a  slave,  of  stopping  at  the  Jewess's  own 
•abode  to  put  on  Greek  habiUmeuts,  and  of  thence  going 


108  ANASTASlirS. 

to  meet  me  at  some  selected  house  in  Galata.  After  the 
interview,  she  would  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  resume 
her  Turkish  dress,  in  order  to  release  by  her  return  her 
pretended  visiter.  The  plan  required  some  preparation, 
and  the  day  after  the  next  was  fixed  upon  for  its  execu- 
tion. 

Matters  thus  being  all  apparently  settled, — "  One  word 
more,"  added  the  Jewess.  "  You  are  aware  this  an  ad- 
venture of  life  and  death.  In  this  nether  world  the  joys 
of  Paradise  can  only  be'  sipped  with  tlie  secrecy  of  the 
grave.     The  least  indiscretion  brings  ruin  to  us  all." 

I  begged  my  instructress  to  make  herself  easy  on  that 
score ;  "  and,"  added  I  in  my  turn,  "  there  is  one  circum- 
stance which  the  lady  may  not  be  sorry  to  learn ;  namely, 
that  in  me  she  will  find  a  youth  not  only  of  the  greatest 
discretion,  but  of  the  most  respectable  birth  and  con- 
nexions." 

I  tliought  the  peal  of  laughter  never  would  have  ended 
into  which  the  old  hag  broke  out  at  this  intimation. 
"And  pray,"  cried  she,  "do  you  imagine  the  fair  Esme  is 
in  love  with  you  for  your  musty  ancestors,  or  means  to 
show  you  off  to  her  acquaintances  1  For  my  pait,  I  mis- 
took you  for  little  better  tlran  a  porter.  If  you  be  a  prince, 
so  much  the  worse !  It  will  require  consideration."  Here 
the  beldam  hobbled  off. 

"  Can  1  have  marred  my  hopes  by  my  vanity  V  thought 
I,  after  the  woman  was  gone.  But  though  tliisidea  gave 
me  a  little  uneasiness,  it  prevented  me  not  from  bestow- 
ing the  utmost  pains,  on  the  day  appointed,  in  adorning 
my  person,  ere  I  went  to  a  place  conveniently  situated 
for  watching  the  entrance  of  the  party  into  the  house 
agreed  upon. 

Here  minute  after  minute  rolled  on  without  my  per- 
ceiving the  least  symptom  of  the  looked-for  couple.  But 
what  I  very  clearly  discerned  instead  were  loud  tit- 
terings behind  a  latticed  window,  which,  presently,  left 
no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  the  whole  interview  was 
a  mere  waggery  of  some  of  the  females  who  had 
found  me  out,  and  were  determined  to  have  a  laugh  at 
my  expense.  The  very  description  of  the  lady's  gran- 
deuT  now  made  that  matter  palpable  by  its  exaggeration; 
and  I  held  myself  assured  that  the  greatest  real  danger 
1  had  to  apprehend  was  that  of  becoming  the  laughing- 
stock of  the  whole  district.  In  this  conviction,  I  cursed 
my  credulity,  and  set  my  wits  to  work  in  order  to  devise 


ANASTASIUS.  109 

how  I  might  turn  the  joke  against  its  authors,  when  a 
faint  murmur  made  me  look  round,  and  behold  two 
females,  carefully  muffled  up,  glide  into  the  place  of  our 
appointment. 

"  Shall  I  follow,  or  not?"  was  now  my  only  thought, 
"  and  take  my  chance  of  whatevergood  or  evil  may  offer  V 

The  Jewess  suffered  not  my  suspense  to  last.  Com- 
ing out  again, — "  What  are  you  waiting  for?"  whispered 
she  impatiently  in  my  ear ;  and,  without  staying  for  my 
answer,  took  me  by  the  hand  and  led  me  up  stairs ; 
where,  having  bidden  me  not  to  be  frightened,  she  left 
me,  and  ran  down  again  to  keep  watch  while  I  remained. 

By  some  strange  perversity  of  hiunan  nature,  the  Jew 
ess's  seemingly  superfluous  caution  had  the  contrary 
effect  from  that  "which  was  intended  ;  and,  combined  with 
Esme's  apparent  backwardness  to  throw  off  herferidjee, 
made  me  fancy  I  had  been  entrapped  with  a  perfect  mon- 
ster. Full  of  this  idea,  I  cursed  the  Israelite  for  leaving 
me  thus  committed  ;  would  have  given  the  world  to  have 
seen  her  return,  even  with  tlie  account  of  some  urgent 
real  danger;  and  stood  riveted  near  the  door  like  a  statue, 
until  my  expectant  fair  one,  losing  all  patience,  tore 
off  her  envelopes,  advanced  in  anger  rather  than  in  love, 
and  convinced  me  of  my  egregious  error. 

As  her  wrath  did  not  continue  inexorable,  I  hope  1  may 
pass  over  the  remaining  details  of  this  interview,  without 
any  great  violation  of  my  duty  as  a  biographer: — they 
presented  strong  features  of  resemblance  with  many 
others  of  the  same  description ;  and,  in  truth,  though  the 
rare  beauties  of  my  mistress — her  soft  black  eyes,  her 
coral  lips,  and  her  carriage,  graceful  as  that  of  the  swan 
gliding  on  the  waters — might  have  obtained,  at  other 
times,  a  more  elaborate  encomium,  thoughts  of  a  sedater 
hue  occupy  my  mind  at  the  present  moment. 

Irksome'  as  I  had  thought  the  departure  of  the  Jewess, 
I  thought  her  return  still  a  thousand  times  more  barba- 
rous, when,  ere  we  had  lime  to  think  of  her  existence,  she 
reappeared,  and,  with  relentless  cruelty,  summoned  us 
to  separate. 

It  seemed  as  if  we  had  only  just  met ;  and  it  also 
seemed  as  if  we  never  were  to  meet  again ;  for  the  expe- 
dient resorted  to  could  not  be  repeated,  and  our  faculties 
were  too  much  bewildered  to  think  of  any  other.  Like 
people  just  awaking  from  a  rapturous  dream,  or  rather 
just  shaking  off  a  deep  intoxication,  we  reeled  about,  lost 


110  ANASTASIUS. 

in  a  maze  of  confused  feelings,  and  able  to  reflect  neither 
on  the  past,  the  present,  or  the  future.  The  vain  attempt 
to  think  was  soon  given  up,  and  we  settled,  to  communi- 
cate through  the  channel  of  the  Israelite,  when  our  minds 
should  be  sobered  by  separation.  At  the  moment  of 
parting,  however,  and  when  casting  on  each  other  the 
last  farewell  glance, — "  What  can  I  do,"  cried  the  grate- 
ful Esnie,  "  to  repay  my  saviour,*  my  sovereign,  and  my 
god ;  what  gifts,  worth  his  acceptance,  can  I  bestow  ? 
Take  this,  and  this,  and  this :  it  is  nothing  to  what  I 
owe  you — it  is  all  I  can  give  in  return ;"  and  so  saying, 
she  tore  off  her  richest  jewels,  and  heaped  upon  me 
strings  of  pearls,  clasps  of  rubies,  and  girdles  of  diamonds. 

"  And  do  you  then  imagine,"  cried  I,  "  that  one  hon- 
oured by  your  smiles  can  expect,  or  can  want  a  recom- 
pense of  this  sort?" 

"  What  signilies,"  replied  the  fair  one,  "what  you  ex- 
pect, or  what  you  want ! — you  wanted  not  the  poor 
recluse  Esme,  when  you  vouclisafed  to  come  to  me.  1 
have  my  burthen  of  gratitude  to  lessen.  For  my  sake  1 
must  give,  and  for  mine  you  must  receive." 

Still  I  refused.  But  a  cloud  began  to  gather  on  the 
brow  thus  far  serene :  gleams  of  ominous  lightning 
flashed  from  those  eyes  that  before  glowed  only  with 
unmixed  tenderness.  "  I  see  it,"  cried  Esme,  "I  see  it ! 
You  love  me  not.  You  fear  to  take  an  earnest.  You  in- 
tend not  to  return  to  my  arms  !" — and  upon  tliis,  she  tore 
her  jetty  locks.  The  Jewess  now  stepped  forward.  "For 
God's  sake,"  said  she,  "  pocket  all,  as  1  do.  It  may  cost 
us  our  lives  thus  to  stand  upon  ceremony."  I  therefore 
yielded,  took  the  proffered  gifts,  for  lliis  magnanimous  act 
received  a  last,  rapturous  glance,  and  tore  myself  away. 

Scarce  deigning  to  lower  my  looks  to  the  earth  ;  scarce 
feeling  the  ground  that  bore  my  feet ;  gliding  along  on  in- 
visible pinions,  rather  than  walking,  I  proceeded  at  ran- 
dom, intoxicated  with  my  good  fortune.  In  my  own 
mind,  I  soured,  at  that  moment,  above  all  the  monarchs 
of  the  globe.  Constantinople  seemed  too  small  to  con- 
tain my  exultation;  and,  oppressed  witiiin  its  walls  by 
the  excess  of  my  happiness,  I  went  forth  at  the  gates,  and 
poured  out  inio  the  country  the  ebullitions  of  my  joy, 
and  the  ferment  of  my  spirits. 

Three  good  hours  of  uninterrupted  exercise  were  requi- 
site to  lay  them ;  after  which  I  went  home  through  the  street 

*  Does  this  epithet  allude  to  his  patronymic  name  1 


ANASTASIUS.  Ill 

which  had  been  the  scene  of  my  forlorn  perambulations,  on 
purpose  to  show  its  familiars  the  difference  in  my  air ! 

Here,  however,  let  me,  for  an  instant,  interrupt  the 
tlircad  of  my  subject,  in  order  to  observe,  that,  though  my 
courtships  have  thus  far  occupied  a  great  portion  of  my 
narrative,  it  is  not  the  history  of  my  loves,  but  that  of  my 
life,  which  I  wish  to  write.  Instead,  therefore,  of  detail- 
ing the  scheme  thiough  means  of  which  was  effected  our 
next  meeting,  and  the  many  others  wliich  followed,  I 
shall  only  in  general  state,  that  each  interview  seemed 
to  increase  the  fondness  of  my  mistress.  Every  circum- 
stance of  my  situation,  which  gradually  unfolded  itself  to 
her  knowledge,  only  gave  me  new  attractions  in  her  eyes. 
Above  all,  she  delighted  in  that  inferiority  of  my  condi- 
tion to  her  own,  which  enabled  me  to  become  indebted  for 
ease,  affluence,  and  whatever  else  appeared  desirable,  to 
her  sole  affection.  Hers  was  the  mighty  bliss  of  giving 
rnc  all  I  possessed — of  making  me  all  I  was. 

Out  of  compliment  to  her  taste,  I  bestowed  upon  my 
person  the  utmost  attention.  The  berath,  which  before 
I  had  coveted,  I  now  failed  not  to  purchase ;  aixd  the  gold 
which  I  accepted  for  the  sake  of  peace  I  laid  out  in  such 
a  way  as  to  make  the  liberalities  of  the  donor,  at  least, 
yield  her  eyes  a  fair  return  in  my  improved  appearance. 
Now  and  then,  indeed,  too  plentiful  supplies  proved  hos- 
tile to  my  prudence ;  but  if  an  opulence  to  which  I  had 
not  been  accustomed  often  got  me  into  scrapes  it  always 
got  me  out  again ;  nor  left  me,  like  modern  friends,  in 
the  difficulties  into  which  it  had  lured  me.  In  one  of  my 
midnight  orgies — for  instance — being  summoned  by  the 
patrole  before  the  waywode,  "  I  was  on  my  way  to  him," 
I  forthwith  exclaimed,  "  in  order  to  discharge  an  old  debt. 
Pray,  gentlemen,  have  the  goodness  to  take  charge  of 
these  few  sequins :  but  only  pay  them  at  your  own  conve- 
nience ;  and  immediately,  my  freedom  was  restored  to  me 
with  a  hundred  bows  and  scrapes.  In  another  frolick- 
some  mood,  making  so  great  a  noise  on  the  canal  that  the 
bostandgee-bashee  had  me  handcuffed  in  spite  of  my  be- 
rath— on  the  pier,  that  it  was  too  dark  to  read  it — "  I  have 
heard,"  I  cried,  "  that  a  fine  carbuncle  will  throw  out  as 
much  light  as  a  lamp.  Vouchsafe,  mighty  sir,  to  try  the 
experiment  with  this  ring" — and,  all  at  once,  the  officer 
saw  so.  clearly  I  was  a  berathlee,  as  to  grant  me  the 
entire  range  of  the  Bosphorus. 

These  occasional  frolics  were  necessar}^  to  keep  up 


112  ANASTASirS. 

my  spirits  under  the  depression  they  began  to  experience. 
For  my  intrigue  cast  upon  my  free-agency  a  constraint 
■which  I  had  never  felt  before.  I,  who  until  that  period 
knew  not  what  it  was  to  abstain  or  to  conceal — who,  even 
with  the  haughtiest  of  the  archondessas  of  the  Fanar, 
used  to  assert  my  liberty,  and  to  mock  the  fair  one's  rage, 
now  felt  anxious,  with  the  prisoner  of  the  harem,  to  dis- 
semble the  least  act  of  inconstancy  of  which  I  might  hap- 
pen to  be  guilty.  Nor  should  it  be  supposed  that  this 
proceeded  from  any  fear  of  stopping  the  current  of  the 
lady's  bounty,  li  is  true  that,  where  I  gave  my  love,  and. 
would  have  given  my  utmost  largess  had  the  means  been 
mine,  I  scrupled  not,  with  the  affections,  to  receive  the 
gifts  of  my  wealthy  mistress  :  but  I  was  not  so  venal  as 
to  have  sold  for  gold  and  jewels  my  person,  independent 
of  my  heart ;  and  Esm6  owed  to  her  situation  alone  a 
consideration  which  never  yet  had  accompanied  my  prefer- 
ences. The  archon's  wife,  a  free  agent  like  myself,  like 
me  had  been  mistress  of  her  choice,  and  where  I  sinned 
against  her,  had  possessed  all  the  means  to  retaliate.  It 
was  not  so  with  Esme.  She  was  a  helpless  captive,  who 
could  not  punish  my  offences  by  following  my  example. 
What  with  the  one  seemed  a  justifiable  proceeding,  with 
the  other  became  wanton  cruelty. 

And  most  acutely  would  the  fair  Mohammedan  have 
felt  any  unnecessary  wound  inflicted  by  my  hand ;  most 
alive  was  her  susceptible  mind  to  all  the  fellest  pangs  of 
jealousy.  "  When  first  I  loved  you,"  she  said,  "  you  had 
never  beheld  me,  you  knew  not  whether  I  was  fair  or  hid- 
eous, you  could  not  harbour  the  least  spark  of  reciprocal 
affection ;  you  might,  without  the  smallest  sacrifice  on 
your  part,  for  ever  liave  kept  out  of  my  sight,  and  left  my 
hopeless  flame,  unfed,  to  die  away.  This,  indeed— had 
not  your  heart  been  free,  and  able  to  return  all  the 
warmth  of  my  feelings — honour,  justice,  and  humanity 
required.  You  acted  otherwise  ;  ere  yet  you  felt  a  spark 
of  reciprocal  tenderness,  you  threw  yourself  purposely  in 
my  way  ;  you  sedulously  nourished  my  passion,  and  you 
liave  carried  my  madness  to  that  pitch,  where  it  must  find 
yours  commensurate,  or  end  in  my  perdition.  You  now 
are  bound  to  sustain  the  affection  which  you  have  gratui- 
tously raised  :  you  are  pledged  to  save  me  from  despair. 
If,  after  having  fanned  my  love  into  a  resistless  blaze, 
you  should  think  of  forsaking  me,  I  die ; — ^but  the  same 
blow  by  which  I  fall,  shall  kill  us  both." 


ANASTASIUS.  113 

The  same  blow  did  not  kill  both!  For  when  long 
impunity  had  made  me  so  daring  as  to  invade  the 
effendee's  own  roof;  when  suspicions  arose  in  the  hus- 
band's mind,  which  he  resolved  to  verify;  wlien  on  he 
rushed  to  his  harem;  when  right  and  left  flew  the  women's 
slippers,  placed  as  a  spell  at  its  threshold ;  when  open 
burst  the  door  of  the  sanctuary,  and  jealousy  carried  its 
search  into  the  inmost  recesses  of  the  gynecaeum ;  when 
what  became  of  the  hapless  Esme,  heaven,  the  efiendee, 
and  the  Black  Sea  alone  can  tell — not  a  hair  of  my  head 
received  the  smallest  iiijuiy.  That  very  impetuosity  of 
my  enemy  which  seemed  to  doom  me  to  certain  and 
immediate  destruction  proved  the  means  of  my  preserva- 
tion. In  the  very  act  of  making  my  escape,  the  door 
which  turned  back  upon  its  hinges  turned  back  upon  my 
person,  and  concealed  the  intruder  behind  its  friendly 
screen  until  the  eftendee  and  his  troop  had  passed  by.  I 
then  slipped  away  unperceived  by  any  creature  within. 
Some  slaves,  however,  who  kept  watch  on  the  outside, 
seeing  me  run,  and  in  evident  confusion,  set  up  a  hue 
and  cry.  Finding  they  gave  me  chase,  I  darted  into  a 
mosque,  whose  open  gate  seemed  to  invite  my  entrance. 
All  I  wanted  was  to  throw  my  pursuers  off  the  scent.  A 
few  old  Moslemen  were  in  the  djamee,*  mumbluig  their 
evening  prayers;  and  while  the  mob  outside  howled  after 
the  adulterer,  tlie  congregation  within  began  to  scream  at 
the  yaoor.  Thus  placed  between  two  fires,  all  hopes  of 
escape  forsook  me.  I  felt  as  if  I  must — but  for  some 
special  miracle — soon  be  torn  to  pieces ! 

One  human  measure  only  remained  to  save  my  life. 
I  drew  my  dagger,  threw  my  cloak  over  my  face,  leaned 
my  back  against  the  mihrab,t  and  cried,  "  I  am  a 
Moslem  in !" 

If  there  existed  not  even  any  direct  evidence  of  guilt 
having  found  its  way  at  all  into  the  effendee's  harem,  still 
less  did  there  exist  any  such  of  my  being  the  offender. 
All  proof  against  me  was  merely  circumstantial.  So  far 
from  being  found  in  the  wife's  faithless  arms,  I  had  not 
even  been  caught  under  the  injured  husband's  roof.  At 
most  I  had  shown  some  signs  of  huiTy  near  the  disturbed 
dwelling;  but  though  this  might  be  reason  enougli  to 
massacre  an  infidel,  a  follower  of  the  true  faith,  how- 

*  Djamee — name  given  to  the  mosques  founded  by  sultans, 
f  The  Mihrab— or  altar. 


114  ANASTASItJS. 

ever  recent  his  conversion,  demanded  somewhat  greatei 
respect. 

From  the  moment,  therefore,  in  which  I  invoked  the  name 
of  the  prophet,  every  breath  of  accusation  was  hushed, 
every  hand  became  suspended.  A  magic  power  seemed 
to  arrest  the  daggers  on  my  very  breast.  A  fanatical 
mob  instantly  took  under  its  protection  the  new  proselyte. 

But  this  proselyte  I  had  bound  myself  to  be.  1  had 
proclaimed  myself  one  of  the  faithful;  and  on  the  spot, 
and  in  the  very  mosque,  I  went  through  the  various  forms 
which  mark  the  reclaimed  infidel,  and  announce  his 
admission  into  the  bosom  of  Islamism. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Historians  often  err  in  attributing  to  a  single  ^eat 
cause  the  effect  of  many  minute  circumstances  combined. 
My  sagacious  biographer,  for  instancfi,  would  not  fail  to 
place  my  abjuration  of  the  Christian  faith  entirely  and 
solely  to  the  account  of  iny  intrigue  with  a  Turkish  fair 
one,  and  the  desperate  alternative  between  life  and  death 
which  ensued.  Nothing  would  be  more  erroneous.  The 
seemingly  bold  measure  had  long  been  preparing  tn  petto; 
and  the  unexpected  dilemma  to  vyhich  I  was  reduced  may 
only  be  said  to  have  fixed  the  period  for  its  execution. 

Tliere  had  arrived  at  Pera  a  foreigner  whom  I  shall 
call  Eugenius.  His  ostensible  object  was  to  acquire  the 
ancient  lore  of  the  East,  in  return  for  which  he  most 
liberally  dealt  out  the  new  creed  of  the  West.  I  cannot 
better  describe  him  than  as  the  antipodes  to  Father  Am- 
brogio.  For  as  the  one  was  the  missionary  of  a  society 
for  the  propagation  of  belief;  so  was  the  other  an  emissary 
of  a  sect  for  the  diffusion  of  disbelief.  He  meditated 
indeed  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy  Land,  but  with  the  view 
to  prove  more  scientifically  the  fatuity  of  all  things  holy. 
Reason,  philosophy,  and  universal  toleration  were  the 
only  objects  of  his  reverence;  and  some  of  his  tenets 
which  1  picked  up  by  the  way  had  in  them  a  something 
plausible  to  my  mind,  and  if  not  true,  seemed  to  my 
inexperience  ben  trovati.  He  conceived  that  there  might 
exist  offences  between  man  and  man,  such  as  adulteryi 


ANASTASItlS.  115 

murder,  &c.,  more  heinous  than  the  imperfect  perfonn- 
ance  of  certain  devout  practir-es — eating  pork  steaks  in 
Lent  included;  and  above  all,  he  tliouglit  that,  whatever 
number  of  crimes  a  man,  using  his  utmost  diligence,  might 
crowd  in  the  short  span  of  this  life,  they  still  might  pos- 
sibly be  atoned  for  in  the  next  by  only  five  hundred  thou- 
sand million  of  centuries  (he  would  not  abate  a  single 
second)  of  the  most  excruciating  torture;  though  this 
period  was  absolutely  nothing  compared  with  eternity. 
As  to  his  other  tenets,  they  were  too  heinous  to  mention- 
Ere  Father  Ambrogio  was  aware  that  Eugenius  broached 
such  abominable  doctrines,  he  had  introduced  me  to  him 
in  tliC  quality  of  drogueman,  or  rather  of  cicerone:  and  the 
tone  in  which  I  was  received  might  liave  made  the  father 
suspect  that  all  was  not  right.  But  the  father's  range  of 
intellectual  vision  extended  not  farther  than  his  own  nose, 
2nd  that  nose  was  a  snub  one.* 

"It  was  you,  quibbling,  sophistical  Greeks,"  cried 
Eugenius,  laughing,  "  who,  proud,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Christian  era,  of  your  recently  imported  gnosticism, 
perverted  by  its  mystic  doctrine  the  simple  tenets  of 
Christianity.  It  is  you  who,  ever  preferring  the  im- 
probable and  the  marvellous  to  the  natural  and  the  prob- 
cble,  have  contended  for  taking  in  a  literal,  and  there- 
fare  in  an  absurd  sense,  a  thousand  expressions  which, 
in  the  phraseology  of  the  East,  were  only  meant  as  figura- 
tive and  symbolical ;  and  it  is  you  who  have  set  the 
baneful  example  of  admitting  in  religious  matters  the 
raost  extraordinary  deviations  from  the  course  of  nature 
£nd  frpm  human  experience,  on  such  partial  and  ques- 
tionable evidence  as,  in  the  ordinary  affairs  of  man,  and 
in  a  modern  court  of  justice,  would  not  be  received  on 
the  most  common  and  probable  occnrrence." 

Father  Ambrogio,  who  had  conceived  that  every  reflec- 
tion upon  the  Greeks  must  be  in  favour  of  the  Romans, 
was  delighted  with  this  speech ;  and  as  he  went  away, 
earnestly  recommended  to  me  to  treasure  up  in  mj' 
memory  all  the  sagacious  sayings  of  the  wise  man  Avhom 
I  had  the  happiness  to  serve. 

But  it  was  not  long  before  he  changed  his  mind.  The 
very  next  day,  when  I  called  on  Eugenius,  I  foimd  Padre 
Ambrogio  in  the  most  angry  discussion  with  him  about 
the  doctrine  of  divine  clemency,  which  the  friar  could 

*  Extended  no  farther  than  his  nose — II  ne  voyoit  pas  plus  loin  que  son 
licz,  was  the  proverbial  expresajon  used  in  the  French  original. 


116  ANASTASIUS. 

not  abide.  Eugenius  at  last  was  obliged  to  say,  in  his 
laughingAvay,  that  since  the  father  appeared  so  incurably 
anxious  for  endless  punishment,  all  he  could  do  for  him 
was  to  pray  that,  by  a  single  exception  in  his  favour,  he 
at  least  might  be  damned  to  all  eternity.  Father  Am- 
brogio,  who  never  laughed,  and  who  liated  Eugenius  the 
more  for  always  laughing,  upon  this  speech  left  the  room: 
but  the  next  time  he  met  me  alone,  he  very  seriously 
cautioned  me  against  one  who,  he  was  sure,  must  be  a 
devil  incarnate. 

"  If  so,"  thought  I,  "  he  preaches  against  his  owatrade ; 
and  his  principal  is  little  obliged  to  him  for  making  his 
dominion  a  mere  leasehold  instead  of  a  perpetuity." 
Meanwhile  I  resolved  not  to  be  too  sure,  and  when 
Eugenius  took  off  his  clothes,  watched  whether  I  could 
perceive  the  cloven  foot.  Nothing  appearing  at  all  like 
it,  and  his  disposition  seeming  gentle,  obliging,  and 
humane,  I  began  to  be  fond  of  his  company — until,  from 
liking  the  man,  I  unfortunately  by  degrees  came  not  to 
dislike  some  parts  of  the  doctrine  of  which  he  was  the 
apostle. 

Eugenius  differed  in  one  respect  from  his  brethren  of 
the  new  school.  While  tliey  wished  to  subvert  all  former 
systems  in  toto,  ere  they  began  to  re-edify  according  to 
their  new  plan  ;  lie,  on  the  contrary,  only  contended  for 
the  appeal  to  reason  on  points  of  internal  faith,  and  urged, 
in  external  practices,  the  propriety  of  conforming  to  the 
established  worship  :  and  this,  not  from  selfish,  but  phi- 
lanthropic motives ;  "  for,"  said  he,  "  while  the  vulgar 
retain  a  peculiar  belief,  they  will  close  their  eyes  and 
hearts  against  whatever  practical  good  those  wish  to  do 
them  who  Join  not  in  their  creed ;  and  should  they,  in 
imitation  of  their  betters,  give  up  some  of  their  idle  tenets 
— unable  immediately,  like  those  they  imitate,  to  replace 
the  checks  of  superstition  by  the  powers  of  reason,  they 
will  only  from  bad  lapse  into  worse,  let  loose  the  reins  to 
their  passions,  and  exchange  errors  for  crimes." 

Now,  in  conformity  to  this  doctrine  of  my  masters, 
what  could  be  clearer  than  that  it  behooved  me,  where 
the  Koran  was  become  the  supreme  law — as  a  quiet, 
orderly  citizen,  zealous  in  support  of  the  establishment 
— with  all  possible  speed  to  become  a  Mohammedan. 
Should  there  happen  to  be  any  personal  advantage  con- 
nected with  this  public  duty, — should  my  conforming  to 
it  open  the  door  to  places  and  preferments,  from  which  I 


ANASTASIUS. 


117 


otherwise  must  remain  shut  out, — shouki  it  raise  me  from 
the  rank  of  the  vanquished  to  that  of  the  victors,  and 
enaWe  me,  instead  of  being  treated  with  contempt  by  tire 
Turkish  beggar,  to  elbow  the  Greek  prince,  was  that  my 
fault  ]  or  could  it  be  a  motive  to  abstain  from  what  was 
right,  that  it  was  also  profitable? 

The  arguments  appeared  to  me  so  conclusive,  that  I 
had  only  been  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  throw  off 
the  contemptuous  appellation  of  Nazarene,  and  to  become 
associated  to  the  great  aristocracy  of  Islamism,  some 
time  before  the  fair  Esme  lent  the  peculiar  grace  of  her 
accent  to  the  AUaii  lUah  Allah  of  the  Mohammedans; 
and  thougli  for  the  credit  of  my  sincerity,  1  could  wish  my 
conversion  not  exactly  to  have  taken  phice  at  the  par- 
ticular moment  at  which  the  light  of  truth  happened  to 
sliine  ujion  me,  yet,  all  things  considered,  I  thought  it 
wiser  not  to  quibble  about  punctilios,  than  to  be  sewed  in  a 
sack,  and  served  up  for  breakfast  to  some  Turkish  shark. 

Thus  It  was  that  the  doctrine  of  pure  reason  ended  in 
making  me  a  Mohammedan :  but  with  a  pang  I  quitted 
for  the  strange  sound  of  Selim,  my  old  and  beloved  name 
of  Anastasius,  given  me  by  my  father;  and  so  often  and 
so  sweetly  repeated  by  my  Helena. 

I  was  scarce  a  Mohammedan  skin  deep  when  I  again 
met  Padre  Ambrogio,  whom  since  my  afiair  with  Esme 
I  had  entirely  lost  sight  of,  and  who  knew  not  my 
apostacy. 

"  Son,"  said  he,  in  a  placid  tone,  "  w'e  are  all  at  times 
prone  to  passion  ;  I  myself,  meek  as  you  now  see  me, 
have  had  my  unguarded  moments :  but  it  is  impossible 
that  you  should  not  wish  to  achieve  the  glorious  work 
so  well  begun.  Suppose,  therefore,  we  resume  our  spirit- 
ual exercises.  You  are  already  so  far  advanced  in  the 
right  road,  that  we  cannot  fail  ultimately  to  nuike  you  an 
exemplary  Roman  Catholic." 

"  Father,"  answered  I,  "  what  may  ultimately  happen 
it  is  not  in  man  to  foresee  :  meantime,  since  we  met  last, 
another  t:-iflmg  impediment  has  arisen  to  my  embracing 
the  Latin  creed.     I  am  become  a  Moslemin." 

At  this  unlooked-for  obstacle  Father  Ambrogio  started 
back  full  three  yards.  "Holy  Virgin!"  exclaimed  he, 
"  how  coidd  you  make  such  a  mistake?" 

Not  caring  to  assign  the  true  cause, — "I  wanted,"  said 
I,  "  to  secure  in  the  next  world  a  little  harem  of  black- 
eyed  girls." 


118  ANASTASirS. 

At  this  speech  Father  Ambrogio  fetched  a  deep  sigh; 
and  began  to  muse,  looking  alternately  at  his  habit  and  at 
mine. — "  Well !"  said  he,  after  a  pause  ;  "  at  least  you  no 
longer  are  a  Greek,  and  that  is  somethuig ;"  and  hereupon 
he  departed  ; — wondering,  I  suppose,  where,  in  his  para- 
dise, Mohammed  meant  to  dispose  of  the  angels  whose 
eyes  were  blue. 

I  never  was  ver>'  ambitious  of  learning,  but  my  new 
godfather,  a  formal  Turkish  graybeard,  could  not  brook 
my  total  ignorance  of  my  new  religion.  "  You  are  not 
here  among  Scheyis,"*  said  he,  "  who  under  the  name 
of  Moliammedans  live  the  lives  of  yaoors,  drink  wine  as 
freely  as  we  swallow  opium,  and  make  as  little  scruple 
of  having  in  their  jiosses.sion  paintings  of  pretty  faces,! 
as  if  at  tlie  day  of  judgment  they  were  not  to  find  souls 
for  all  those  bodies  of  their  own  creating.  You  are — 
Allah  be  praised  ! — among  strict  and  orthodox  Sunnees ; 
and,  however  an  old  believer  may  have  had  time  to  forget 
his  creed,  a  young  neophyte  should  have  it  at  his  fingers' 
ends." 

So  I  had  to  learn  my  catechism  afresh.  Great  was  my 
inclination  to  expostulate; — but  all  I  could  obtain  was  to 
be  provided  with  a  teacher,  who,  for  my  twenty  paras  a 
lesson,  should  put  me  in  the  way  of  passing  over  the 
bridge  SeerathJ  as  speedily  as  possible.  And  tliis  I  was 
promised. 

Notliing,  therefore,  could  exceed  my  surprise,  when  in 
walked  tlie  gravest  of  the  whole  grave  body  of  doctors  of 
law — the  very  pink  and  (juintessence  of  true  believers; 
one  who  would  not  miss  saying  Ins  naymaz  regularly 
four  times  a  day,  three  hiuidrod  and  sixty  days  in  tlie 
year,^  for  all  tlie  trc^asures  of  tlie  devas;||  who,  to  obtain 
the  epithei  of  hafeez,ll*  had  leariifvl  his  whole  Koran  by 
heart  umo  the  last  stop  ;  and  wl;o,  not  satisfied  with  pray- 
ing to  God  like  otlier  pco[)le,  had  linked  himself  to  a  set 

*  Scheyis — the  two  principal  socls  among  the  Moliammedans  are  the  Sun- 
nees and  lh<!  Scheyis;  and  as  tlie  difTen-nee  heiweeri  them  is  small,  so  is  the 
hatred  proporlioiiably  intense.  The  Turks  are  all  Sunnees,  the  I'ersians  all 
ScheyiH — ilie  former  are  more  fanatical,  and  ihe  latter  more  su|)erstitioiis. 

t  Pretty  faces — Ihe  Persians  admit  representations  of  human  figures  in  their 
books  ofpo-try,  which  the  Turks  hold  in  ahhorrcnoc. 

t  The  bridge  Seerath — over  wliii'h  the  souls  of  ihe  elect  glide  into  heaven  ; 
while  itio^K  of  the  damned  tumble  from  it  into  hell. 

§  Throe  hundred  and  sixty  days  in  the  year— Ihe  Mohammedan  months  are 
lunar. 

II  Dcvas — the  Mohammedan  spirits  that  guard  suhtcrraneous  treasures. 
11  Hafe:z — holy,  but  in  a  1cm  degree  lUan  tUc  wely  or  saint. 


ANASTASIUS.  119 

of  danring  derwishes,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  addressing 
the  Deity  with  inoie  eftect  in  a  sugar-loaf  cap,  aiid  twist- 
ing roiiJid  the  room  like  a  top :— a  personage  who,  in  a 
deVoiit  fit,  would  plump  down  upon  his  knees  in  the  midst 
of  the  most  crowded  street,  without  turning  his  head 
round  before  he  had  finished  the  last  reekath*  of  his 
orison,  if  all  Constantinople  were  trembling  in  an  earth- 
quake ;  who,  considering  all  amusements  as  equally  hei- 
nous, made  no  difference  between  a  game  of  chess  or  man- 
gala,  and  illicit  attention  to  one's  own  great-grandmother, 
and  once,  in  his  devout  fury,  with  his  enormous  chaplet 
positively  demolished  Karaglieuzf  in  the  midst  of  all  his 
drollery  :  a  personage  who,  at  the  end  of  the  Ramadan,^ 
looked  like  a  walking  spectre,  and  the  very  last  time  of 
this  fast  absolutely  doubled  its  length,  only  for  having 
snuffed  up  with  pleasure,  before  the  hours  of  abstinence 
were  over,  the  fumes  of  a  kiebab  on  its  passage  out  of  a 
cook-shop:  a  personage  who  had  an  absolute  horror  of 
all  representations  of  the  human  figure — those  of  Saint 
Mark  on  the  Venetian  sequin  only  excepted  :  apeisonage, 
in  fine,  who  already  was  surnamed  in  his  own  district  the 
Wely  or  Saint ;  and  whom  all  his  neighbours  were  dying 
to  see  dead,  only  that  they  miglit  hang  their  rags  round 
his  grave,  and  so  get  cured  of  the  ague. 

When  this  reverend  mooUah^  first  made  his  appear 
ance,  his  face  was  still  bedewed  with  tears  of  sympathy, 
occasioned  by  a  most  heart-rending  scene  of  domestic 
wo,  which  his  charitable  hand  had  just  assuaged.  In  an 
adjoining  street  he  had  -found,  stretched  out  on  a  bare 
pavement,  a  whole  miserable  family — father,  mother, 
brother,  sister,  together  at  least  with  a  dozen  children  of 
tender  age — in  a  state  of  complete  starvation.  Tlie  very 
description  of  such  a  jjiteous  sight  harrowed  up  my  soul. 
Lest,  however,  the  holy  man  siiould  incur  a  susi)icion  of 
having  been  betrayed  into  a  weakness  so  reprehensible 
as  that  of  pity  for  the  human  species — for  which  he  felt 
all  the  contempt  it  deserved,  and  which  he  never  pre- 
sumed to  solace  under  any  of  the  visitations  inflicted  by 

*  Reekath — a  division  of  the  Mohanimrdaii  prayer. 

t  KiiraRheuz— bl>uk  eyes  ;  ihe  principal  personage  in  a  Turkish  puppet-show 
reseinbliMf;  the  Ombres  'Chinois(-s. 

{Ramadan — or  Rama7.an  ;  the  month  during  which  the  ^lohamnnedans  fast 
all  day  and  feast  all  night.  While  the  sun  remains  nliove  thi-  lioriy.nn  tliey 
dare  not  even  refresh  themselves  wiih  a  drop  of  water  or  a  wliiH' of  tobacco. 

§  Moollah — generic  name  lor  the  doctors  of  law,  who,  acoordmj:  to  ilie  Mo- 
hammedan system,  are  doctors  of  divmity  ;  in  as  far  a.s  the  Moluimmeduii  law 
is  entirely  foiinJed  on  the  Koran. 


120  ANASTASIUS. 

Proviilcnce — I  should  add,  that  the  wretched  objects  of  his 
present  compassion  were  of  tliat  less  criminal  sort,  the 
canine  species !  They  belonged  to  those  troops  of  un- 
owned dogs  whom  tlie  Turks  of  Constantinople  allow  to 
live  in  tlieir  streets  on  the  public  bounty,  in  order  to  have 
the  ple:isure  of  seeing  them  bark  at  the  Christians  whom 
their  Frank  dress  betrays.  To  these  and  other  beings 
of  the  irrational  genus  were  entirely  confined  the  bene- 
factions of  my  tutor;  and  if  his  own  species  have  few 
obligaii  JUS  to  acknowledge  from  him,  he  was  recorded  as 
having  purchased  the  liberty  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
canary  birds  in  cages,  granted  pensions  to  the  baker  and 
butcher  for  the  maintenanc  ■  of  fifty  cats,  and  left  at  least 
a  dozen  dogs,  whom  iie  found  on  the  pav^,  handsomely 
provided  for  in  his  will. 

No  sooner  was  my  venerable  instructer  comfortably 
seated  on  his  heels  in  the  angle  of  my  sofa,  than  looking 
around  him  with  an  air  of  complacency,  as  if  he  liked  my 
lodgings,  he  told  rne,  to  my  infinite  satisfaction,  that  pro- 
vided he  only  took  his  station  there  for  two  hours  every 
day,  he  pledged  himself  before  the  end  of  the  first  year  to 
instru-t  me  thoroughly  in  all  the  diversities  of  the  four 
orthodox  rituals— the  Hanefy,  Schafey,  Hanbaly,  and 
Maleky;  together  with  all  tliat  belonged  to  tlie  ninety- 
nine  epithets  of  the  Deity,  represented  by  the  ninety-nine 
beads  of  the  chaplet.  In  the  space  of  another  twelve- 
month he  ventured  to  hope  that  he  might  go  over  with  me 
the  principal  difference  between  the  two  hundred  and 
eighty  most  canonical  mufossirs  or  commentators  on  tlie 
Koran,  as  well  as  the  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  articles 
of  the  creed,  on  which  theologians  entertain  a  difference 
of  opinion  ;  and  in  the  third  year  of  our  course,  he  prom- 
ised to  enable  me  completely  to  refute  all  the  obje(;tion3 
which  the  Alewys  and  other  dissenters  make  to  the 
Sunnee  creed ;  and  to  have  a  general  idea  of  the  tenets 
of  th3  seventy-two  leading  heretical  sects,  from  that  of 
Ata-hakem-el-Mookaima,  or  the  one-eyed  prophet  with 
the  golien  mask,  to  Khand-Hassan,  the  fanatic  who  ate 
pork  and  drank  wine  in  the  j)iil)li(;  market-place  like  any 
Christian  :  so  as  through  dint  of  so  muidi  diligence  on 
the  fourth  ;uk1  last  year  to  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  go 
over  the  whole  again,  and  imprint  it  indelibly  on  my 
memory.  By  way  of  a  little  foretaste  of  his  method  of 
disputation,  he  took  up  one  of  the  controverted  points; 
first  raisjd  his  own  objections  against  it;  and  then — as 


ANASTASIUS.  121 

he  had  an  indubitable  right  to  do  with  his  undisputed 
property — again  completely  overset  them  by  the  irre- 
sistible force  of  his  arguments ;  after  which,  having  en- 
tirely silenced  his  adversary,  he  rose  equally  proud  of  the 
acuteness  of  his  own  rhetoric,  and  charmed  with  the 
sagacity  with  which  I  had  listened. 

The  truth  is,  I  had  fallen  asleep;  wherefore,  when  I 
suddenly  awoke  on  the  din  of  his  argumentation  ceasing, 
I  shook  my  head  with  a  profound  air,  and  by  way  of 
showing  how  niucli  in  earnest  I  meant  to  be,  with  a  very 
wise  look,  said  I  could  not  give  my  unqualified  assent, 
until  I  heard  both  sides  of  the  question.  Thus  far  I  had 
heard  neither. 

This  determination  rather  surprised  my  doctor,  who 
seemed  to  have  relied  on  my  faculty  of  implicit  credence. 
"  Hear  both  sides  of  the  question !"  exclaimed  he,  in  utter 
astonishment.  "  Why  tliat  is  just  the  way  never  to  comc 
to  a  conclusion,  and  to  remain  in  suspense  all  the  days 
of  one's  life !  Wise  men  first  adopt  an  opinion,  and  then 
learn  to  defend  it.  P"'or  my  part,  I  make  it  a  rule  never 
to  hear  but  one  side ;  and  so  do  all  who  wish  to  settle 
their  belief." 

The  tiling  had  never  occurred  to  me  before  ;  but  I 
thought  it  had  in  it  a  something  plausible,  which  at  any 
rate  made  me  resolve  not  to  lengthen  the  four  years' 
course  by  idle  doubts.  Accordingly,  in  tlie  first  three 
lessons  I  agreed  to  every  thing  tiie  doctor  said  or  meant 
to  say,  even  before  he  opened  his  mouth,  and  only  won- 
dered how  thintrs  so  simple,  for  instance,  as  the  prophet's 
ascent  to  the  third  heaven  on  the  horse  Borak,  with  a 
peacock's  tail  and  a  woman's  face  (I  mean  the  horse), 
could  be  called  in  question.  Unfortunately,  when  in  the 
fourth  lesson  the  moollah  asserted  that  Islamism  was  des- 
tined ultimately  to  pervade  the  whole  globe,  a  prepos- 
terous longing  seized  me  to  show  my  learning.  1  asked 
how  that  could  be,  when,  as  Eugenius  had  asserted,  an 
uninterrupted  day  of  several  montiis  put  the  fast  of  the 
Ramadan  wholly  out  of  the  question  near  the  poles  I 
This  difficulty,  which  the  doctor  could  not  solve,  of  course 
put  him  into  a  great  rage.  He  reddened,  rubbed  his  fore- 
head, repeated  my  query,  and  at  last  told  me,  in  a  violent 
perspiration,  that  if  I  mixed  travellers'  tales  with  theology, 
he  must  give  up  my  instruction. 

I  was  too  happy  to  take  him  at  his  word;  instantly 
paid  what  I  owed  for  the  lessons  received,  and  begjed, 

Vol.  I.— F 


122  ANASTASIUS 

henceforth  to  remain  in  contented  ignorance.  Lest, 
however,  I  should  appear  petulant  to  my  godfather,  I 
went  and  desired  him  to  find  me  a  mooUah  that  was  rea- 
sonable. 

"A  mooUah  that  is  reasonable!"  exclaimed  an  old 
gentleman  present,  who  happened  to  belong  to  the  order 
himself.  "  Why,  young  man,  that  is  a  most  unreason- 
able request.  The  Koran  itself  declares  the  ink  of  the 
learned  to  be  equal  in  value  to  the  blood  of  martyrs ; 
and  where  will  a  single  drop  be  shed  in  disputation,  if  all 
agree  to  be  reasonable  1  But  come,"  added  he,  laughing, 
"  I  will  imdertake,  without  a  fee,  to  teach  you  in  one 
word  all  that  is  necessary  to  appear  a  thorough-bred 
Mosleniin;  and  if  you  doubt  my  receipt,  you  may  even 
get  a  fethwa  of  the  mufty,  if  you  please,  to  confirm  its 
efTicacy.  Whenever  you  meet  with  an  infidel,  abuse  him 
with  ail  your  might,  and  no  one  will  doubt  you  are  your- 
self a  stanch  believer."  I  promised  to  follow  the  ad- 
vice. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Stkun  winter  had  breathed  his  last :  his  churlish  pro- 
geny had  fled.  The  waves  were  no  longer  lashed  by 
storms,  nor  was  the  earth  fettered  by  frost.  Constanti- 
nopli'  liaiit'd  the  day,  revered  alike  l)y  Creeks  and  Turks, 
when  St.  George  ()j)ens  in  state  the  ijaud}-  portals  of  the 
sprill^^  'I'lie  north  wind  had  ceased  to  liowl  through 
Stainlxiors  thin  haliitatioiis.  Mild  ze|)hyr  reigned  alone; 
and  as  his  fragrant  breath  went  forlli  in  gentle  sighs,  the 
•white  wiiiding-slieet  of  snow  retired  gradually  from  the 
mountain's  niL^ged  brow,  while  a  verdant  carpet  of  lender 
Ucr\y.t<rr  spread  along  the  hoUoWvalJey.  The  taller  trees 
of  tlic  forest  might  still  slumber  awliile :  tlu;  less  shrubs 
and  plants  of  ihf  garden  were  all  wakin<:,  to  resume 
tlieir  Miminer  robe»  of  ridi  and  varied  die.  Uliisliiiig 
l)loss«ms  erowiied  tlieir  heads,  and  everv  transient  yale 
was  loaded  with  their  fragrance.  Over  fields  enameUed 
w  iih  the  criiiisoii  anemone  lliitlered  inillions  of  a/.nre  but- 
terflies, just  bnjke  forth  tVom  their  shells  with  the  flowers 
on  winch  they  fed,  and  hardly  yet  able  to  unfurl  their 


ANASTASIXjg.  123 

wings  in  air:  while  on  every  bou^h  was  heard  some 
feathered  songster,  hailing  the  new  season  of  joy  and 
of  love.  The  very  steeds  of  the  imperial  stables,  Hbe- 
rated  that  day  from  tlieir  dark  winter  stalls,  measured 
with  mad  delight  Kiadhane's  verdant  meads,  while  their 
joyful  neighing  re-eciioed  from  the  hills  around.  Under 
each  dazzling  portico  reflected  in  the  Bosphorus  were 
seen  groups  of  icli-oglans  and  pages,  sporting  their  new 
spring  suits,  like  gilded  beetles,  in  the  sun.  All  eyes 
seemed  riveted  on  tlie  Othonian  fleet,  wiiich,  in  gay  and 
gallant  trim,  majestically  issued  forth  from  the  deep 
moutii  of  the  harbour,  and  with  every  snowy  sail  swell- 
ing in  the  breeze,  advanced  towards  Marmora's  wider 
basin,  there  to  commence  its  yearly  cruise  through  the 
mazy  Archipelago.  Of  the  immense  population  of  Con- 
stantinople, a  part  was  skimming,  in  barges  glittering 
like  goldfish,  the  scarce  ruffled  surface  of  the  channel, 
while  the  remainder  sauntered  in  gay  parties  on  the 
fringed  terraces  that  overhang  its  mirror,  and  in  the 
woody  vales  that  branch  out  from  its  banks.  On  all 
sides  resounded  the  tuneful  lyre  and  the  noisy  cimbal, 
animating  the  steps  of  the  joyous  dancers.  Nature  and 
art,  the  human  race,  and  the  brute  creation  seemed  alike 
to  enjoj',  in  ever^r  form  of  diversified  festivity,  the  epoch 
when  recommence  the  hopes,  the  labours,  and  the  de- 
lights of  summer. 

I  too  was  one  of  the  mirthful  throng.  In  company 
with  a  few  Osmaidees,  not  the  most  rigid  of  their  race, 
I  had  been  indulging  in  the  orgies  of  the  day  outside  the 
gate  of  Selivria.  Somewhat  fluslied  with  the  juice  of 
the  berry  which  Bacchus  first  planted  in  my  comitry,  we 
were  returning  towards  the  Top  Capoosse,*  when  close 
beside  us  came  prancing  an  exceeding  bad  horseman 
mounted  on  a  worse  steed.  At  Constantinople  it  often 
occurs,  that  an  old  menial,  wliose  rambles  never  extended 
iieyond  the  village  of  St.  Siepheus,  and  whose  foot  never 
pressed  a  stirrup,  is  rewarded  for  his  domestic  services, 
by  a  military  fief  or  zeeam<'th,t  at  ten  or  twenty  days' 
journey  from  tlie  capital.  He  then  first  learns  to  ride  in 
tlie  plains  outside  (be  irate  of  Adrianoplc,  in  ordi^r  lliat  he 
niay  know  bow  to  (ding  lo  his  saddle,  when  constrained 

*  Top  f'ni«Hy*!i'— cniinon  sat<' :  one  of  ilir  ;ates  <if  f'onst.intinoplp. 

♦  Zc(:iiiiL-tU— miliary  fi  fdl'ihos*  «lio  onirtii  to  siipplv  thi-  rrsuliir  r«valry 
of  ib'-i)iliom;ui  iMiiiiiri'.  Iiut  li>  n  frfqueiit  abHue  |kiss  into  thi-  UatidsU  won»en 
ur  cliil<Jr«(i,  wtto  &;i>i  sulMlituU'S. 

F-2 


.  124  ANASTASIUS. 

to  present  himself  before  his  vassals.  Of  this  descrip* 
tioii  seemed  to  be  the  equestrian  whose  pleasure  it  was 
to  annoy  us.  Proud  of  his  newly-acquired  horseman- 
ship, he  was  incessantly  in  our  way,  now  trotting,  now 
prancing,  now  galloping  at  full  speed,  so  as  to  keep  us 
involved  in  a  constant  cloud  of  dust,  with  the  additional 
advantage  of  expecting  every  instant  a  nearer  participa- 
tion in  his  horse's  kicks  and  curvetings.  Whether,  in 
order  to  avoid  his  company,  we  went  slow  or  fast,  or 
turned  to  the  right-hand  or  to  the  left,  still  he  haunted 
us  like  our  shadow ;  or  if  for  a  moment  he  seemed  to 
have  taken  his  leave,  it  was  only  to  raise  a  fallacious 
hope,  and  return  to  the  charge  with  renewed  powers  of 
annoyance,  when  least  expected  ;  like  the  forest  fly  that 
haunts  the  weary  traveller,  and  seems  to  enjoy  the  rest- 
less state  in  whi(;h  he  keeps  his  helpless  adversary. 
Vexatious  as  was  the  fellow's  behaviour,  my  either  less 
frrilable  or  more  sober  companions  agreed  not  to  notice 
it.  They  would  have  nothing  to  do,  they  said,  with  a 
saucy  green-head^  only  amennble  before  his  own  officers, 
and  sure  to  be  supported,  whatever  outrage  he  might 
commit,  by  all  his  comrades.  Less  patient,  or  less  awed 
by  the  propliel's  kindred,  1  swore  I  would  grapple  with 
the  emir,  and  soil  the  greon  of  his  turban  with  the  red 
of  its  brainless  tenant:  wiien,  guessing  my  intentions, 
he  buried  his  sharp  stirrups*  in  his  lank  and  harassed 
steed,  and  scampered  away;  but  not  before  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  what  seemed  throughout  to  be  the  end  of  all 
his  labour;  namely,  in  bespattering  me  from  head  to  foot 
with  all  the  mud  of  almost  the  only  puddle  wliich  re- 
mained in  the  road. 

Who  that,  in  the  full  prido  of  an  entire  new  suit,  of 
which  the  colour  has  long  been  pondered  over,  t!ie  stuff 
chosen  after  infinite  consideration,  the  making  only  in- 
trusted to  the  most  skilfid  artists,  the  fining  tried  in  all 
its  various  stages,  tlie  final  arrival  obtained  only  at  the 
very  p'-riod  destined  for  its  disphiy,  and  tlie  illimitable 
beauty  exhibited  yet  to  a  small  portion  only  of  those  in- 
tended lo  h(;  dazzled  with  its  splendour — is  fated  to  see 
the  work  of  so  much  thought  and  laI)our  irretrievably 
spoiled  in  all  its  precious  bloom,  and  from  an  object  of 
.exultation  rend(Mcd  a  subject  of  mockery;  who,  I  say, 
that  is  fated  to  undergo  such  a  trial,  ever  preserved  his 

•  Shtrji  stlrrvp*— which  with  tlie  Turks  perform  the  offlcft  of  spurs. 


ANASTASICS. 


126 


temper  unruffled,  and  was  blessed  with  feelings  suffi- 
cienily  toipid  to  abstain  from  falling  out  even  with  blind 
and  undesigning  chance  ? 

Then  fancy  my  impatient  spirit  submitted  to  this  trial, 
and  that  by  the  unprovoked  malice  of  a  fellow-mortal! 
But  a  few  moments  before,  alas  I  the  vest  of  purple 
broadcloth,  tlie  velvet  jacket  of  emerald  green,  the  scar- 
let bernoos*  lined  with  sky-blue  satin,  and  the  anipLe 
trousers  of  a  blushing  lilac,  like  the  tints  that  sui round 
the  setting  sun  blended  together  in  a  universal  galaxy, 
through  dint  of  the  embossed  gold,  that  covered  all  its 
prominent  parts  as  Mith  a  network, still  shone  in  the  full 
perfection  of  their  primitive  purity.  My  dress  resembled 
the  infant  leaves  of  the  spring,  yet  untainted  either  by 
blight  or  insect.  After  parading  its  beauties  all  day  like 
a  peacock  in  the  country,  1  was  only  going  home  to  dis- 
play them  all  the  evening,  as  on  a  new  stage,  m  the  illu- 
minated coffee-housest  in  the  town,  when,  not  even  by 
the  unavoidable  decrees  of  an  inexorable  destiny,  but  by 
the  insolence  of  a  paltiy  serving  man,  all  my  honours 
fell  blasted  in  the  bud,  and  every  item  of  my  gay  attire 
was  made  to  display  the  marks  of  a  shower  of  black 
offensive  mud ;  so  that  I  looked  like  a  once  gaudy  tulip, 
whose  erect  splendour  has  been  crushed  by  some  restive 
ass's  heedless  hoof.  Such  was  my  indignation  at  the 
insult,  and  still  more  at  the  escape  of  the  culprit,  that  I 
felt  a  positive  want  of  some  luckless  wight  on  whom  to 
vent  my  rage. 

At  that  inauspicious  moment,  who  should  suddenly 
start  up,  as  from  the  very  bowels  of  the  yawning  earth, 
but  my  friend  Anagnosti,  whom  I  had  left  buried  m  the 
Bagnio ! 

On  quitting  that  prison,  I  was  fully  determined  not  to 
let  an  hour  elapse  without  applying  for  his  liberation,  nor 
to  rest  until  I  iiad  procured  it.  For  that  purpose  chiefly 
I  had  gone  to  Mavroyeni.  The  reader  may  remember 
how  I  was  received.  The  fainting  fit  which  followed, 
the  illness  in  the  hospital,  and  the  indigence  I  had  to  en- 
counter on  first  being  thrown  anew  upon  the  wide  world, 
had  combined  to  prevent  for  several  weeks  all  further- 
ance of  my  design.    When  my  condition  improved,  I 

•  Bernoos— cloak  vrom  by  the  Barbaresques,  by  the  navy,  and  by  those 
who  adopt  the  short  dress. 

t  Illuniinatea  ccfllebouses— which  form  part  of  the  nocturnal  festivitiea  of 
the  Ramadan 


12G  ANASTASirS. 

lliouglit  it  advisable  to  wait  till  I  had  earned  a  character,' 
had  acquired  friends  anion<j  the  Franks,  and  had  pur- 
chased the  berath  which  might  give  greater  independence 
to  my  movements  in  behalf  of  a  rayah.  These  came  iu 
due  time,  but  with  them  also  unfortunately  came  the 
infatuation  of  my  Turkish  amour,  dnring  whicdi  I  was 
obliged,  for  my  mistress's  sake,  carefnlly  to  avoid  attract- 
ing the  public  attention  ;  and  this  affair  only  ended  in 
that  apostacy  which  made  me,  bold  as  I  was,  dread  the 
reproachful  sight  of  Anagnosti.  Yet  1  had  not  aban- 
doned my  piu  pose ;  and  1  had  determined,  the  very  day 
after  8t.  George,  to  labour  to  effect  my  friend's  release, 
when  he  thus  unexpectedly  crossed  my  way. 

The  very  presence  of  Anagnosti — and  of  Anagnosti 
after  mj^  long  neglect  of  his  forlorn  situation,  freed  from 
his  fetters  without  my  assistance — was  in  itself  a  severe 
rebuke.  The  negligence  of  winch  1  stood  convicted  by 
my  fi  iend's  deliverance  almost  made  me  regret  the  cir- 
cumstance as  premature.  I  felt  his  freedom  as  a  boon 
he  sliould  not  have  accepted,  except  at  my  hands ;  as  an 
event  expressly  brought  about  to  shame  me.  Though  in 
reality  he  came  from  celebrating — probably  in  a  some- 
what different  manner — the  same  festival*  with  myself, 
lie  seemed  only  to  rush  thus  full  upon  me  while  yet  igno- 
rant of  his  liberty,  and  luiprepared  for  his  appeaiance, 
in  order  to  take  me  by  surprise,  and  to  enjoy  my  con- 
fusion. 

This  idea  alone  was  sufliciently  galling;  but  had  no 
suspicion  of  the  sort  entered  my  niind,  had  1  felt  entitled 
to  regard  myself  as  the  sole  seli'-applauding  author  of  my 
friend's  rel(;ase,  as  the  guardian  angel  to  wliom  belonged 
his  fullest  gratituile,  still  could  I  most  devoutly  have 
wished  that  fate  had  !)rought  me  in  contact  with  his  tho- 
rough (ireek  figme  at  any  other  time  rather  than  at  the 
present  moment.  'J'hrown  among  Osmanlees  proud  of 
their  untainted  blood,  and  whose  consideration  I  courted, 
I  had  but  just  asserted  an  equality  with  my  lofty  com- 
panions, by  sweaiing  i?ideed  that  1  was  mo^  one  of  those 
(;andioie  Turksf  wlio,  though  three  parts  (Jreek,  are  yet 
regarded  as  among  the  highest  nujttled  of  the  sultan's 
Mohammedan  subjects,  but  by  swearing  this  in  so  ftignifi- 

♦  Tho  same  frNlival— oulwiijc  Uio  To)i  Oapoowse  there  is  a  lioly  well  much 
reHorteii  to  by  the  OruekM  on  the  day  of  St.  Coorge's  fcKtival. 

t  Caniliolc  TurkM— rcrkoiied  peculiarly  brave  and  dashinp,  though  often 
intermarrying  with  Greek  women,  whom  they  suffer  to  rottiiu  llimr  ryliaion. 


ANASTASirS.  127 

cant  a  manner  as  to  be  disbelieved,  to  gain  credit  for  the 
reverse  of  what  1  affirmed,  and  to  combine  the  benefit  of 
a  lie  with  the  riplit  to  boast  strict  veracity :  1  had  even, 
in  conformity  with  the  mooUali's  advice,  most  vehemently 
abused  the  whole  race  of  Christian  dogs ;  and  in  the  midst 
of  my  success  and  my  exultation,  to  find  myself  thus  sud- 
denly confronted  witli  the  only  person  who,  bj'  his  f;uniliar 
address,  must  not  only  overturn  the  whole  fal)ri(;  of  my 
raisintr,  but  proclaim  me  a  mere  renegado — an  outcast 
from  the  very  Bagnio,  tln-eatened  so  total  a  subversion 
of  all  my  views  and  hopes,  as  to  give  Anagnosti,  in  my 
already  ruffled  mind,  the  character  of  an  enemy  rather 
than  of  a  friend.  The  instant  I  perceived  him  1  felt  my 
cheek  burn  with  shame  and  vexation,  and  tried  to  avoid  liis 
irksome  notice ;  but  already  I  had  caught  his  watchful  eye. 

In  this  situation  I  felt  that  a  mere  retreating  movement 
would  onl}^  invite  a  more  eager  and  marked  advance,  and 
conceived  that  nothing  but  a  coolness  so  obvious  as  to 
wound  my  friend  to  the  quick,  and  make  him  in  his  disap- 
pointment be  the  first  to  shun  all  recognition,  could  save 
me  from  his  dreaded  familiarity.  Upon  this  principle, 
instead  of  either  darting  forward  to  meet  his  embrace,  or 
shrinking  from  his  approach,  I  stopped  suddenly  shoi  t, 
stood  entirely  motionless,  and  with  all  the  dignity  of  the 
turban,  just  put  out  my  hand,  to  receive  the  homage  of 
his  respectful  lip. 

His  first  glance  alighting  only  on  my  features,  had  made 
him  rush  forward  to  press  me  to  his  bosom.  His  second 
look,  falling  upon  my  dress  and  companions,  again  arrested 
his  progress,  and  seemed  to  rivet  his  feet  to  the  ground. 
Hence,  judging  him  sufficiently  awed  by  my  mere  ap- 
pearance, I  now  ventured  to  utter  some  condescending 
expressions:  but  my  words  he  heeded  not.  Keeping  liis 
haggard  eyes  fixed  on  my  person,  he  asked  me  whether 
a  spell  fascinated  his  senses,  or  whether  in  rcjality  I  was 
become — a  Moslemin,  he  would  have  said ;  but  the  hateful 
appellation  stuck  in  his  throat.  Not  caring  lie  should 
give  it  utterance — "  Be  what  I  may,"  I  hastily  cried,  "  pro- 
ceed thou,  without  fear." 

The  pious  ceremonies  of  the  morning — not  I  trust  the 
devout  libations  of  the  afternoon — had  imparted  to  my 
friend's  religious  entlnisiasm  a  more  than  usual  warmth. 
At  tliis  mortifying  speech,  resentment  of  my  neglect,  in- 
dignation at  my  apostacy,  wounded  pride,  and  disap- 
pointed affection  took  possession  of  his  soul. 


128  ANASTASIUS. 

"  Fear !"  exclaimed  he,  lepealing  my  last  words  with 
an  hysteric  laugh ;  while  his  eye  darted  lightning,  and  his 
lip  curled  up  in  scorn:  "Fear  suits  only  the  deserter  of 
his  country  and  his  God  !" 

So  proud  a  taunt  completed  the  rising  ferment  of  my 
blood.  Enraged  at  the  invective,  still  more  enraged  at 
its  coming  from  a  rayah,  from  a  man  of  mean  appearance, 
and  in  the  presence  of  sneering  Osnianlees,  I  mechanically 
thrust  my  hand  in  my  girdle  and  drew  out  my  liandjar. 
It  was  an  unmeaning  and  half-involuntary  action :  I  had 
no  fatal  purpose ;  I  intended  not — no,  upon  the  solemn 
word  of  one  again  prostrate  befoi  e  the  Cross — I  intended 
not  to  hurt  a  liair  of  my  friend's  sacred  head.  Frantic, 
lie  rushed  forward,  and  fell — fell  upon  the  weapon's  too 
diligently  sliarpened  point.  He  then  struck  me  away 
from  him,  while  the  dagger — slipping  through  my  palsied 
fingers — remained,  as  he  intended,  deep  buried  in  his 
side. 

Leisurely  he  drew  it  out,  and  with  a  sort  of  complacency 
viewing  his  blood  as  it  trickled  from  the  blade — "  O  my 
mother,  my  mother,"  he  exclaimed,  "thy  dying  words 
then  prove  true.  My  friends  alone  have  been  my  perdi- 
tion, aud  the  small  crimson  speck  found  on  the  bands  of 
our  brotherhood,  is  grown  into  the  stream  that  now  gushes 
from  my  heart !  But  at  least  Anastasius,"  added  he,  with 
a  look  which  pierced  my  very  soul,  "I  have  prevented 
him  who  made  a  vow  to  defend  me  to  his  last  dying  breath, 
from  being  the  destroyer  of  my  wretched  life.  I  won- 
dered thou  hadst  abandoned  thy  friend.  Alas!  I  knew 
not  that  thou  hadst  forsaken  thy  God !  May  he  pardon 
thee  as  I  do !  Life  to  me  was  bitterness,  death  is  a  wel- 
come guest !  I  rejoin  those  who  love  me ;  and  already, 
methinks,  they  stretch  out  their  arms  from  heaven  to  their 
dying  Anagnosti.  Thou — if  there  be  in  thy  breast  one 
spark  of  pity  left  for  hiui  thou  on(;e  namedst  thy  brother, 
ah,  suffer  not  the  starving  hounds  in  the  street — See  a 
little  liallowed  earth  thrown  over  my  wretched  corpse." 

These  words  were  his  last.  He  staggered;  his  body 
fell  lifeless  across  the  highway,  and  his  spotless  soul  flew 
to  heaven. 

In  the  day  of  battle,  so  mighty  are  the  preparations  for 
hurling  death  at  thousands;  by  so  many  are  the  shafts 
of  the  grim  destroyer  seen,  expected,  launched,  and  felt; 
30  rapidly  are  the  slain  often  followed  by  their  slayers 
and  ihe  mourned  by  their  mournei'Si,  that  [he  harvest  pf 


ANASTASIUS.  129 

the  grave,  however  dire  and  sudden,  scarce  finds  leisure 
to  be  noticed,  and  no  longer  appals  an  imagination  already 
stunned  and  dizzy  with  excitement.  But  when  in  the  hour 
of  mirth  and  thoughtlessness  a  single  living  frame  of  ex- 
quisite perfection  is,  by  some  unforeseen  blow,  suddenly 
snatched  away  in  the  full  exercise  of  all  its  energies  cor- 
poreal and  mental,  and  changed  into  an  insensible  mass 
of  clay,  stretched  out  in  the  kindred  dust,  unconscious  of 
the  greatest  insults,  how  drear,  how  awful  to  the  beholder 
seems  the  vast  and  sudden  change !  Fixed  in  intent 
amazement  at  the  dismal  one  which  I  had  witnessed— 
witnessed,  but  not  occasioned ! — I  long  continued  gazing 
on  my  friend's  lifeless  form,  and  at  last — late  at  night — 
returned  into  the  city,  by  the  same  gate  through  which, 
in  the  morning,  I  had  gone  forth  full  of  mirth. 

But  sad  was  now  my  soul !  I  felt  the  heavy  hand  of  the 
Almighty  upon  me !  I  felt  the  long  series  of  chastise- 
ments beginning  which  awaited  my  apostacy.  Precisely 
where  the  religion  of  my  fathers  had  imposed  upon  me 
the  most  sacred  ties,  where  by  my  change  1  had  most 
grievously  sinned  against  it,  and  where  the  punishment 
of  my  infidelity  must  wound  my  heart  most  painfully, 
there  the  first  blow  had  been  struck !  It  was  because  I 
had  abandoned  my  God  that  I  had  been  doomed  to  lose 
my  friend — the  friend  to  whom  I  had  been  sworn  in  his 
holy  name  ! — and  doomed  to  lose  him  by  my  own  thrice- 
cursed  hand  !  And  so  great  became,  from  the  bitter  taste 
of  its  first  fruits,  the  sense  of  my  guilt,  that,  could  I  only 
have  avoided  the  dismal  fate  of  an  utter  outcast,  bidden 
for  ever  to  fly  his  country  and  to  roam  among  strangers, 
I  would  willingly  have  forfeited  all  else  which  I  possessed 
or  could  hope  for,  even  now  to  abjure  my  new  errors,  and 
to  return  to  my  old  condition  and  worship.  Nor  did  any 
fear  of  its  consequences  mix  itself  with  the  feelings  which 
my  misfortune  called  forth  in  me.  Had  I  even  been  most 
unquestionably  guilty  of  the  premeditated  murder  of  an 
infidel,  my  life,  as  a  Moslemin,  could  run  no  risk  from  the 
award  of  the  Turkish  law.  But  the  numerous  circle 
which  had  witnessed  the  scene  united  in  asserting  my 
entire  innocence ;  and  when  on  the  morning  after  the 
deed  I  presented  myself  of  my  own  accord  at  the  nearest 
mekkieme,*  to  take  my  trial,  the  cadee,  after  exchanging 
a  few  words  with  his  naib,t  dismissed  me  fully  acquitted. 

*  Mekkiem^ — Turkish  hall  of  justice.  f  Naib— the  cadee'8  cleirk. 

F3 


130  ANASTASIUS. 

Not  so  my  own  conscience !  Loud  and  ceaseless  ■were 
its  upbraidings.  "  Thy  dagger,"  it  cried,  "  has  been  lifted 
on  thy  friend ;  it  has  killed  thy  brother ;  it  has  struck  him 
to  the  heart  whom  it  ought  to  have  defended  to  the  last 
drop  of  thine  own  blood;  its  accursed  edge  has  cut 
through  the  holiest  of  engagements,  and  doomed  to  de- 
struction the  sincerest  piety  and  the  tenderest  affection. 
To  the  last  day  of  thy  life  the  wound  iiiflicted  by  thee  on 
Anagnosti  shall  continue  to  fester  in  thine  own  bosom ! 
it  shall  remain  fresh  and  green  when  his  mouldering  re- 
mains have  fallen  into  dust ;  it  shall  follow  thee  beyond 
the  grave ;  it  shall  make  thee  dread  to  meet  thy  friend 
even  in  tlie  regions  of  eternal  bliss,  if  it  should  not  eter- 
nally shut  against  thee  their  inexorable  doors." 

To  husli  the  relentless  monitor,  to  honour  my  ill-fated 
friend's  remains,  and  to  appease  his  shade,  I  did  all  that  I 
now  could  do.  I  not  only  had  his  body  carried  to  the 
grave  in  splendid  procession,  masses  performed  for  his 
soul,  the  boiled  wheat*  distributed  in  plenty  among  the 
congregation,  the  purest  maible  sought  for  a  gorgeous 
tombstone ;  I  myself,  clothed  as  I  was  in  the  livery  of  Mo- 
hammed, followed  at  a  distance  the  dismal  pomp,  wiapped 
in  the  cloak  of  sadness — my  garments  soiled,  and  my 
head  strewed  with  ashes.  From  an  obscure  aisle  in  the 
church  I  beheld  the  solemn  service ;  saw  on  the  plain  of 
death  the  pale  stiff'  corpse  lowered  into  its  narrow  cell, 
and,  hoping  to  exhaust  sorrow's  bitter  cup,  at  night  when 
all  mankind  consigned  their  griefs  to  rest,  went  back  to 
ray  friend's  final  resting-place,  lay  down  upon  his  still, 
still  grave,  and  watered  with  my  tears  the  hollow  fresh- 
raised  mound. 

In  vain !  Nor  my  tears  nor  my  sorrows  could  avail. 
No  offerings  nor  penance  could  purchase  me  repose. 
Wherever  1  went,  the  fatal  spot  of  blood  still  danced  be- 
fore my  steps,  and  the  reeking  dagger  still  hovered  in  my 
siglit.  In  the  silent  darkness  of  the  night,  I  saw  the  pale 
and  luminous  phantom  of  my  friend  stalk  around  my 
watchful  coucli,  covered  with  gore  and  dust ;  and  even 
during  the  noisy  meetings  of  the  day  to  which  I  fled  for 
relief,  I  still  beheld  the  spectre  rise  over  the  festive  board, 
glare  on  me  with  piteous  look,  and  hand  me  whatever  I 
attempted  to  reach.  But  whatever  it  presented  seemed 
blasted  by  its  touch.  To  my  vi^ine  it  gave  the  taste  of 
blood,  and  to  my  bread  the  rank  flavour  of  death ! 

*  The  boiled  wheat— or  colyva,  distributed  by  the  Greeks  at  burials. 


ANASTASIUS.  131 

I  who  before  had  set  at  naught  even  the  sober  creed 
of  the  sage,  now  sought  comfort  in  the  silly  superstitions 
of  the  vulgar.  I  made  offerings  to  the  inexorable  Fates. 
I  supplicated  the  awful  Moirai*  to  withhold  from  me  their 
scourges.  Thinking  by  swift  motion  to  fly  from  the 
vision  which  every  where  pursued  my  steps,  I  bestrode 
the  swiftest  coursers,  and  roamed  the  country  over.  I 
flew  across  hill  and  dale,  both  ear^y  in  the  morning  and 
late  at  night — now  descending  headlong  the  steep  banks 
of  the  Propontis,  now  rushing  along  the  rugged  shores 
of  the  Euxine. 

Among  my  acquaintance  was  a  rich  Armenian.  The 
fondness  for  handsome  horses  prevalent  among  his 
nation,  in  him  was  a  perfect  passion :  but  a  passion  which 
the  jealous  laws  of  the  Turks  only  suffered  a  rayah  to 
indulge  in  secret.  He  might,  at  an  immense  cost,  keep 
the  most  magnificent  coursers  that  came  from  the  rich 
plains  of  his  own  country:  bestride  them  he  durst  not 
— except  in  their  stalls :  to  ride  and  to  enjoy  them  he 
was  obliged  to  hire  some  mean  Mohammedan ;  and  as 
the  noble  animals  often  wanted  exercise,  he  was  glad  to 
assist  me  in  flying  from  my  sorrows,  by  giving  me  the 
unrestrained  use  of  his  stud. 

Thus  enjoying  the  command  of  the  fleetest  horses  and 
the  most  active  grooms,  I  took  care  that  neither  should 
want  exercise.  I  devoted  my  whole  time  to  drawing  the 
bow,  and  slinging  the  djereed.f  In  no  place  was  I  seen, 
but  at  the  ocmeidan  and  in  the  hippodrome,|  where  I 
endeavoured  to  raise  my  oppressed  spirits  by  sending 
them  on  the  wing  after  a  barbed  arrow,  or  a  staff  that 
cleft  the  air.  In  order  to  concentrate  on  one  point  the 
whole  bent  of  my  faculties,  and  the  whole  scope  of  my 
feelings,  I  used  to  set  myself  a  task. 

I  resolved  to  hit  a  particular  mark  at  an  assigned  dis- 
tance, and  I  left  not  the  spot  until  I  had  performed  the 
feat.  This  practice  gave  me  a  dexterity  in  warlike  exer- 
cises, of  which,  at  a  later  period,  I  reaped  the  benefit. 
At  the  time,  the  swiftest  motion  of  my  bory  was  not 
sufficient  to  afford  my  mind  repose.  The  instant  I 
vaulted  into  my  saddle,  the   gaunt  spectre  leaped  up 

*  Moirai — the  Fates,  who  in  some  of  the  Greek  islands  are  still  worshipped 
■with  superstitious  rites. 

T  Djereed — a  staff,  which  the  Turks  make  it  one  of  their  favoarite  sports  to 
fling  at  each  other  with  prodigious  force  on  hoi^eback. 

t  Oc-meidan  and  Hippodrome — the  first  the  place  of  arrows,  tbe  latter 8till 
called  by  the  Turks  At-meidan,  or  the  place  of  bones. 


132  ANASTASItS. 

behind  me.  I  might  walk  or  I  might  gallop,  saunter 
along  or  fly  at  full  speed ;  yet  would  he  alike  goad  my 
galled  heart,  and  with  his  iron  gripe  wring  my  breast  to 
suffocation.  If  for  an  instant  I  breathed  more  freely,  if 
sometimes  I  conceived  a  transient  hope  that  my  gloom 
wore  out,  it  soon  proved  delusive;  and  the  sun's  enfeebled 
rays  scarce  in  an  autumn  day  at  Venice  less  easily  pierce 
its  shroud  of  chilling  mist,  than  the  least  glimpse  of 
hilarity  broke  through  the  desolation  which  surrounded 
my  heart. 

As  a  last  and  desperate  resource,  I  tried  to  drive  away 
my  fnglitful  visions  by  gayer  dreams,  the  children  of 
drowsy  opium.  I  found  my  way  to  the  great  mart  of 
that  deleterious  drug,  the  Theriakee  Tchartchee.*  There, 
in  elegant  coffee-houses,  adorned  with  trelliced  awnings, 
the  dose  of  delusion  is  measured  out  to  each  customer 
according  to  his  wishes.  But  lest  its  visiters  should 
forget  to  wliat  place  they  are  hying,  directly  facing  its 
painted  porticoes  stands  the  great  receptacle  of  mental 
imbecility  erected  by  Sultan  Suleiman  for  the  use  of  his 
capital. 

In  this  tchartchee  any  day  might  be  seen  a  numerous 
collection  of  those  whom  private  sorrows  have  driven  to 
a  public  exhibition  of  insanity.  There  each  reeling  idiot 
might  take  his  neighbour  by  the  hand,  and  say,  "  Brother, 
and  what  ailed  thee,  to  seek  so  dire  a  cure  ?"  There 
did  I,  with  the  rest  of  its  familiars,  now  take  my  habitual 
station  in  my  solitary  niche,  like  an  insensible,  motion- 
less idol,  sitting  with  sightless  eyeballs,  staring  on 
vacuity. 

One  day,  as  I  lay  in  less  entire  absence  under  the  purple 
vines  of  the  porch,  admiring  the  majestic  sulimanye,  as 
it  shaded  the  tchartcliee,  the  appearance  of  an  old  man  with 
a  snow-white  beard,  reclining  on  llie  couch  beside  me, 
caught  my  attention.  Half  plunged  in  stupor,  he  every 
now  and  then  burst  out  into  a  wild  laugh,  occasioned  by 
the  grotesrpu;  phantasms  which  the  ample  dose  of  mad- 
joonf  he  had  just  swallowed  was  sending  up  to  his  brain. 
I  sat  conteni[)lating  him  with  mixed  curiosity  and  dis- 
may, when,  as  if  for  a  moment  roused  from  his  torpor,  he 
took  me  by  the  hand,  and  fixing  on  my  countenance  his 

•  Tberiakeo  Tchartchee— placn  where  the  lovers  of  opium  used  to  resort. 
On  one  Hide  of  it  tiho.h  the  Huperb  inoHque  built  by  Sulieman  III.;  and  iD 
front  HtandH  Ihi;  hospital  for  insatie  persons. 

t  Madjoon— TurliiBh  name  for  opium. 


ANASTASIUS.  133 

dim  vacant  eyes,  said,  in  an  impressive  tone,  "  Young 
man,  thy  days  are  yet  few ;  take  tiie  advice  of  one  who 
has  counted  many.  Lose  no  time ;  hie  thee  hence,  nor 
cast  behind  one  Ungering  look :  but  if  thou  hast  not  the 
strength,  why  tarry  even  here  ]  Thy  journey  is  but  half 
achieved.  At  once  go  on  to  that  large  mansion  before 
thee.  It  is  thy  ultimate  destination ;  and  by  thus  be- 
ginning where  thou  must  end  at  last,  thou  mayst  at  least 
save  both  thy  time  and  thy  money." 

The  old  man  here  fell  back  into  his  apathy,  but  I  was 
roused  effectually.  I  resolved  to  renounce  the  slow  poison 
of  whose  havoc  my  neighbour  was  so  woful  a  specimen ; 
and  in  order  not  even  to  preserve  a  memento  of  the  sin  I 
abjured,  presented  him,  as  a  reward  for  his  advice,  with 
the  little  golden  receptacle  of  the  pernicious  drug  which 
I  used  to  carry.  He  took  the  bauble  without  appearing 
sensible  of  the  gift ;  while  I,  running  into  the  middle  of 
the  square,  pronounced,  with  outstretched  hands,*  against 
the  execrable  market  where  insanity  was  sold  by  the 
oimce,  an  elaborate  and  solemn  malediction. 

The  curse,  I  believe,  took  effect.  Certain  it  is  that 
with  me  seemed  to  depart  for  ever  the  prosperity  of 
Theriakee  Tchartchee.  From  the  day  I  turned  my  back 
upon  its  fatal  abodes  the  use  of  wine  and  spirits  may  be 
said  in  Constantinople  to  have  superseded  that  of  opium. 
Every  succeeding  year  has  seen  the  trade  of  madjoon 
decline  faster,  and  the  customers  of  those  that  sell  it 
diminish  more  rapidly.  The  old  worshippers  of  the 
poppy  juice  have  dropped  off  like  the  leaves  in  autumn, 
and  no  young  devotees  have  sprung  up  in  their  stead. 
The  preparation  has  not  even  preserved  its  adherents 
among  those  men  of  the  law  formerly  anxious  to  com- 
bine, through  means  of  a  drug  that  may  be  taken  unper- 
ceived,  the  pleasures  of  intoxication  with  the  honours  of 
sobriety. 

*  With  outstretched  hands — the  Greeks  still  utter  their  imprecations  with 
outstretched  hands  and  fingers. 


134  ANASTASIUS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Bv  degrees  my  purse,  exhausted  in  the  daily  purchase 
of  ready-made  but  ill-wearing  mirth,  had  begun  to  par- 
take of  the  depression  of  my  spirits ;  and  on  this  occasion 
I  found  pecuniary  embarrassments  an  excellent  remedy 
for  a  settled  melancholy.  When  a  man  knows  not  how 
to  support  life,  he  has  little  leisure  for  feeding  sorrow. 
To  replenish,  however,  ray  empty  coffers,  I  commenced 
upon  a  novel  pursuit,  which,  if  it  completed  the  waste  of 
present  resources,  made  me  amends  by  the  brilliancy  it 
gave  my  future  prospects. 

This  I  shall  explain. 

My  melancholy,  my  retirement,  and  my  endeavours  ta 
find  relief  from  my  sorrow  in  superstitious  practices  had 
brought  me  in  contact  with  a  personage  who  long  since 
had  exchanged  the  society  of  man  for  habitual  converse 
with  spirits  ;  and  who,  disclaiming  all  further  intercourse 
with  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  employed  himself  solely 
in  cultivating  an  extensive  acquaintance  in  the  different 
regions  of  the  heavens.  The  only  easy  and  familiar 
chit-chat  in  which  my  friend  Derwish  might  be  said  to 
indulge  was  with  the  stars.  His  accurate  information 
respecting  the  various  occurrences  in  the  firmament, 
however,  gave  him  so  superior  an  insight  into  the  affairs 
of  this  globe,  that  he  felt  mortified  as  well  as  surprised  at 
seeing,  both  in  potentates  and  in  private  individuals,  so 
unaccountable  a  backwardness  to  ajjply  for  his  advice* 
He  was  as  fond  of  giving  it  as  those  who  have  not  the 
stars  to  back  their  opinion.  And,  indeed,  who  more 
capable  than  Derwish  of  directing  all  the  affairs  of  man  ? 
He  understood  the  composition  of  cabalistic  sentences, 
capable  of  baffling  the  subtlest  witchcraft,  and  disarming 
the  most  determined  evil  eye.  He  could  tell  to  a  second 
the  precise  period  for  every  critical  measure,  from  the 
giving  a  battle,  to  the  taking  a  dose  of  physic;  and  as  to 
casting  nativities  and  predicting  seasons,  the  Venice 
calendar  itself  must  yield  in  accuracy  to  Derwish.  It  is 
well  known  what  innumerable  little  devils  float  in  air, 
always  on  the  watch,  when  people  inadvertently  yawn, 
to  whip  into  their  mouths,  and  slip  down  their  throats. 


ANASTASIUS.  135 

when  they  make  sad  intestine  commotion  in  their 
stomachs.  Tliese  he  possessed  the  art  of  expelling  with 
rare  success ;  and,  soon  preparing  to  soar  far  beyond 
his  former  flights,  he  was  at  the  eve,  when  I  made  his 
acquaintance,  of  a  discovery  which  promised  mines  of 
wealth  to  whoever  might  choose  to  join  M'ith  him  in  the 
speculation.  It  consisted  in  ascertaining  by  the  itching 
of  one's  fingers  what  heaps  of  gold  lay  buried  under  those 
ancient  piles  which — like  the  arches  of  Backtchekeui,* 
the  ruins  in  Greece,  and  the  pyramids  of  Egypt — are 
mistaken  by  the  ignorant  for  aqueducts,  and  temples, 
and  mausolea;  but  by  the  wise  are  known  to  be  the 
secret  treasuries  of  the  Constantines,  the  Suleimans,  and 
the  Pharaohs  of  old.  The  exact  value  of  the  deposites 
known, — what  so  easy  as  to  pulldown  the  buildings  over 
them  ■? 

Ere,  however,  this  could  be  quite  accomplished,  other 
resources,  less  splendid  no  doubt,  but  more  acceptable, 
and  in  which  Eblist  had  no  hand,  lent  me  their  season- 
able aid. 

One  day,  when  walking  on  the  quay  with  a  brother  in 
distress,  "  See,"  said  I  to  my  companion,  "  all  those 
bales  of  costly  goods  I  For  whom  think  you  they  are 
landing  ?  Why,  for  some  old  churl,  to  be  sure,  nailed  to 
his  counter,  or  buried  in  his  warehouse.  Fortune  reserves 
all  her  favours  for  those  who  only  know  tliem  by  a  cipher 
more  or  less  in  their  leger.  Young  fellows,  like  us, 
who  would  proclaim  her  bounty  by  sound  of  trumpet, 
and  show  its  fruits  to  the  world,  she  leaves  to  starve." 

"Fortune,  gentlemen,"  observed  the  caravokeirij  of 
the  ship,  who  had  overheard  my  speech,  "  is  a  lady,  and 
as  I  take  it,  dislikes  not  her  votaries  more  than  other 
females  do  for  being  young.  But  to  be  won,  she  must 
be  courted." 

I  now  recognised  in  the  captain  one  of  our  islanders ; 
He  knew  me  before.  "  You,  sir,"  added  he,  "  might  have 
had  the  lady  on  your  own  terms,  as  much  as  anybody. 
Who  so  petted  as  you  were  by  your  worthy  deceased 
mother  ?" 

"  What !  my  mother  dead  1"  exclaimed  I,  both  shocked 
and  surprised. 

*  The  arches  of  Backtchekeui — magnificent  aqueduct  near  the  village  of 
that  name,  built  under  the  Greek  emperors  in  the  pointed  style,  and  whichi 
«ill  supplies  Constantinop|le  abundantly  with  water. 

t  Ebhs — his  satanic  majesty. 

i  Caravokeiri — master  of  a  merchant  veaseL 


136  ANASTASIUS. 

"  To  be  sure,"  rejoined  the  reis ;  "  and,  had  she  known 
where  to  find  you,  ere  that  happened,  who  doubts  that 
she  would  have  left  her  wealth  to  you  rather  than  to  that 
cross-grained  minx — pardon  my  boldness — your  eldest 
sister." 

"  All  left  to  my  eldest  sister,"  cried  I,  drying  up  the 
tears  that  had  begun  to  flow.  "Ah,  if  I  too  had  but 
scolded  her  all  the  day  long !  That  at  least  shows  atten- 
tion, and,  it  seems,  meets  with  its  thanks.  Or  rather,  if 
she  had  but  scolded  me,  whenever  I  deserved  reproof. 
But,  she  is  gone  to  a  better  place  than  her  son  must  hope 
to  see :  peace  be  to  my  own  soul,  as  it  is  sure  to  be  to 
hers !" 

"It  would  not  much  perhaps  disturb  its  repose,"  ob- 
served my  companion,  "  to  have  a  little  tug  at  your  sis- 
ter; and  to  try,  in  your  quality  as  Moslemin,  which  went 
furthest,  your  mother's  partiality,  or  that  of  the  law." 

Next  to  her  mother  and  her  husband,  Roxana  (now 
the  eldest  female  of  the  family)  had  always  made  me  the 
favourite  object  of  her  ill-humour.  I  owed  her  a  longer 
score  of  petty  spites  than  I  had  ever  hoped  to  wipe  out. 
It  would  have  been  a  pleasure  to  me  to  hustle  her  out 
of  the  inlieritance,  had  it  even  been  for  a  stranger. 
Finding,  therefore,  that  the  accumulated  produce  of  my 
mother's  estate  at  Naxia  was  in  the  hands  of  a  merchant 
in  Constantinople,  in  ready  cash,  I  went  to  claim  it.  My 
sole  regret  on  my  way  was,  my  not  having  provided  sacks 
and  porters  sufficient  to  carry  away  the  whole  treasure 
at  once. 

There  was  little  occasion  for  such  a  hurry.  At  first, 
my  mother's  fortune  scarce  seemed  easier  to  get  at  than 
the  wealth  of  the  Pharaohs  coveted  by  my  friend  Der- 
wish.  In  order  to  obtain  it,  I  found  legal  forms  to  go 
through,  certificates  to  sign,  petitions  to  present,  secu- 
ritif's  to  give,  and  accounts  to  settle,  which  only  at  the 
end  of  several  weeks  allowed  me  to  pocket  my  money, 
or  rather  the  half  of  my  money  which  had  not  been 
melted  away  in  the  interval,  in  law  expenses,  merchant's 
commissions,  presents  distributed  among  men  in  power, 
and  fees  paid  to  men  in  office.  Even  that  half,  however, 
my  necessities  rendered  a  most  welcome  supply. 

To  the  landed  property  at  Naxia  I  could  only  enforce 
my  right  by  personal  appearance ;  and  a  little  voyage 
round  the  Archipelago  seemed  to  promise  a  pleasing  as 
well  as  profitable  change  of  scene.    Accordingly,  I  bar- 


ANASTASIUS.  137 

gained  for  my  passage  in  a  Greek  vessel  bound  for  Ragusa, 
but  intending  to  touch  at  Cliio.  I  was  not  sorry  once 
more,  under  the  protection  of  the  turban,  to  behold  my 
native  home ;  whence  an  open  boat  could  easily  convey 
me,  when  I  pleased,  to  Naxos. 

With  all  these  arrangements  settled  in  my  mind,  I  sent 
my  baggage  on  board  ;  meannig  myself  to  go  by  land  as 
far  as  Gallipoli,  where  the  sacoleva*  was  to  ballast. 
Already,  with  one  foot  in  the  stirrup,  was  I  taking  my  last 
Jeave  of  all  my  acquaintance  collected  around  me,  when, 
from  a  distance,  resounded  a  loud  cry  of,  "  Stop  him, 
stop  him !"  Accordingly  I  was  going  to  set  oft'  as  fast 
as  possible — cursing  the  fellow  who  had  girt  my  saddle 
ill,  and  now  detained  me  to  rectify  his  awkwardness — 
when,  ere  I  could  get  away,  who  should  burst  through 
the  opening  crowd,  and  seize  my  bridle  like  one  frantic, 
but  the  stargazer  Derwish  himself! 

"  Can  you,"  said  he,  in  an  angry  whisper — tlirusting  his 
whole  mouth  in  my  ear,  "  can  you  think  of  going  after 
a  paltry  rabbit  warren,  when  on  the  very  threshold  of  all 
the  treasures  of  the  universe  V 

"  Friend,"  answered  I,  "  accuse  the  stars  ;  they  have 
been  so  dilatory  in  performing  tlieir  promises,  that  I  dis- 
claim all  furtlier  engagement  with  their  highnesses." 

"  Foolish  impatience  of  youth !"  resumed  Derwish. 
*'  But  if  hope  cannot  stop  you,  at  least  listen  to  fear.  For 
your  sake  I  have  spent  the  whole  night  on  my  roof, 
watching  yon  planet.  It  looks  all  spleen  and  malice. 
Therefore,  at  any  rate,  go  not  till  Saturday.  Besides, 
who  in  his  senses  sets  out  upon  a  journey  on  any  other 
day  r' 

"  Every  day  is  auspicious,"  replied  I,  laughing,  "  to 
those  who  go  after  their  money." 

"  Hark!"  exclaimed  the  persevering  Derwish,  "there 
is  the  muezzeemf  of  Sultan  Achmet,  just  calling  to 
prayers.  Before  you  go,  say  your  namaz." — "  I  have 
said  it  three  times  over,"  replied  I.  "And  the  bag  of 
garlic  for  your  horse,  against  witchcraft  V — "  There  it 
dangles."  "And  the  amulets  for  yourself]" — "Head, 
stomach,  arms,  all  are  stiff  with  them."  "  I  see,"  ob- 
served my  friend,  deeply  sighing,  "  you  have  done  every 

*  Sacoleva — small  merchant  ship. 

t  Muezzeem — person  who  among  the  Turks  cries  the  hour  of  prayer  from 
the  top  of  the  minarets.  Sultan  Achmi't  is  a  magnificent  mosque  at  Constan< 
tinople,  built  by  that  sovereign,  and  the  only  one  whicU  has  six  minarets. 


138  AXASTASIVS. 

thing  for  yourself :  now  do  sometliing  for  me,  whom  you 
desert  M'ith  all  my  exciivations  on  my  hands.  It  will  not 
cost  less  tliaii  fifty  thousand  piastres  only  to  undermine 
the  aqueduct,  and  I  have  not  five  paras  in  tlie  world ! 
Give  me  at  .least  in  advance  a  couple  of  sequins." 

Dervvisli  had  now  completely  worn  out  my  paticncp. 
Ill  order  to  get  rid  of  him — "  This  good  gentleman," 
cried  I  to  the  bystanders,  "  only  wants  to  deprive  the 
capital  of  water,  and  lo  prevent  the  ablutions  of  tlu; 
faithful.  Pray  assist  him,  as  I  have  not  time  to  stop." 
Derwish  at  these  words  grew  frightened ;  he  let  go  my 
reins,  and  slunk  away.  1  rode  off,  rested  during  the  heat 
of  tlie  day  at  a  village  on  the  road,  and  in  the  evening 
arrived  at  (iallipoli. 

The  captain  had  already  taken  in  his  ballast ;  so  we 
set  sail  immediatel}'.  At  tlie  Uardanelles  we  were  de- 
tained several  hours  by  private  jobs  of  the  crew,  of  which 
the  custom-house  officers  bore  the  blame.  .lust  as  we 
got  under  sail  again,  an  Israelite,  who  had  heroically  de- 
termined to  go  by  water  whither  he  could  not  get  by  land, 
begged  to  be  admitted  on  board.  He  pleaded  poverty  so 
piteously  tliat  he  was  received  out  of  pure  charity ;  it 
being  of  course  understood  that  he  was  to  submit  with 
a  good  grace  lo  whatever  tricks  the  sailors  might  choose 
for  their  diversion  to  play  upon  his  person.  Another 
Jew,  seeing  his  countr3anan  so  readily  taken  in,  begged 
liard  for  the  same  l)Oon  ;  l)ut  the  sailors,  thinking  they 
liad  provided  sufficient  pastime  for  the  voyage,  now  be- 
came obdurate,  and  when  tlie  supplicant  attempted  to 
creep  up  the  sides  of  the  vessel,  unmercifully  beat  him 
off.  Ill  tliis  operation  none  was  so  active  as  his  brother 
Jew,  who,  concealed  behind  tlie  sailors,  gave  him  a  sound 
rap  with  a  long  stick  over  the  knuckles  every  time  he 
attempted  to  grapple  the  ship,  I  could  not  lielp  noticing 
this  v/ant  of  charity  in  one  who  himself  needed  so  much; 
but  I  foiiud  it  w-as  from  the  impulses  of  that  very  virtue  in 
which  I  thought  iiim  deficient  our  new  guest  acted  in  this 
way.  The  other  Jew,  lui  informed  us,  was  a  rogue,  and  if 
admitted,  no  one  could  tell  what  mischief  he    might  do. 

V.'e  now  thought  ourselves  secure  from  further  intru- 
sion, when  a  light  wherry,  skimming  the  waters  like  a 
swallow,  sliot  alonir.sidc  of  us,  and  flung  upon  our  deck, 
without  wailing  for  permission  at  all,  a  smart  caleondjee, 
whose  liigh  bejhest  n-as  to  be  conveyed  to  Tcnedos.  Thfi 
captain  iininediately  bowed  submission. 


'  ANASTASUS.  139 

In  this  new  passenger  I  soon  recognised  a  personage 
with  whom  I  had  made  an  ac(iuaintanrc  on  board  the  Turk- 
ish dcct  during  the  expedition  lo  the  Morea.  Never  had 
we  met  since  the  failure  of  the  attempt  on  Maj-no.  The 
maruie,  therefore,  felt  great  pleasure  in  boasting  of  tlie 
more  successful  one  against  tlie  same  nest  of  pirates, 
undertaken  the  ensuing  3-ear.  'J'he  delight  witli  which 
lie  described  how  tlie  moohasil  of  the  IMorea  forced  the 
little  peninsula  by  land,  and  the  capitan-pasha  Idoek- 
aded  it  bj'  sea;  and  how  the  inhabitants,  driven  by  the 
one  out  of  their  strongholds,  iell  with  their  boats  into 
the  clutches  of  the  other,  could  only  be  exceeded  by  the 
rapture  with  which  he  painted  the  males  all  hanged,  and 
the  women  and  children  all  drowned,  in  order  to  recon- 
cile them  to  the  Turkish  yoke.  "  You,"  he  concluded, 
"  who  are  going  to  take  possession  of  j-our  estates,  mean 
henceforth,  I  suppose,  to  lead  a  sober  country  life,  and 
have  done  with  all  such  frolics.  iNIay  jou prosper  !  For 
my  part,  I  hate  innocent  amusements,  and  -want  a  little 
vice  to  season  my  pleasures !"  Tenedos  now  being  near, 
niy  friend  called  for  the  boat,  and  got  himself  rowed 
ashore ;  while  I  wished  him  at  parting  a  great  deal  of 
pleasure,  with  all  manner  of  vice. 

The  current  had  faithfully  escorted  ns  out  of  the 
straits;  but  having  fairly  seen  our  ship  into  the  open 
sea,  it  here  made  a  deep  obeisance,  bid  our  party  fare- 
well, and  dived  away,  leaving  us  for  the  remainder  of 
the  voyage  to  the  care  of  the  whids.  'J'hese  apparently 
were  busy  elsewhere.  At  least  none  attended  our  sum- 
mons ;  and  for  several  days  we  were  left  to  confront 
nothing  but  a  dead  calm.  Should  any  one  be  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  have  had  no  acquaintance  thus  far  with  tlie 
jnonster  ennui,  the  most  favourable  situation  Mithout 
doubt  for  acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of  its  powers 
is  on  board  a  vessel  so  small  as  to  leave  no  room  for 
exercise,  in  the  midst  of  a  sea  so  boundless  as  to  offer 
no  object  for  contemplation,  where  motionless  in  one's 
motionless  vehicle  one  lies  for  hours  watching  a  cloud- 
less sky  for  a  breeze  which  stays  away,  and  a  waveless 
sea  for  a  ripple  which  comes  not !  In  this  situation,  while 
all  else  stands  completely  still,  time  itself  seeins  to  roll 
on  so  heavily,  that  tiiongh  every  hour  of  one's  short  life 
runs  wholly  to  waste,  one  yet  regrets  that  it  does  not 
waste  faster.  I,  who  could  only  breathe  in  a  bn^^tle,  and 
thrive  in  a  M'hirlMind,  absolutely  gasped  in  this  unre- 


140  ANASTASITJS. 

lenting  stillness  of  the  elements  as  for  breath ;  and  it 
seemed  to  deaden  in  my  mind  even  the  sense  of  pain, 
which  would  have  been  a  welcome  relief  to  my  listless- 
ness.  Fiity  times  an  hour  I  looked  alternately  at  the 
smi  and  at  my  watch  : — I  stretched  myself;  I  j'avvned; 
I  walked  the  deck  lengthwise  and  crosswise  :  1  listened 
to  the  dull  jokes  of  the  sailors,  and  even  took  part  in 
their  lifeless  conversation,  until  I  became  convinced  that 
tedium  levels  the  various  conditions  of  life  far  more  than 
love,  or  even  gambling.  All  my  impatience  was  not  of 
the  least  use  1  The  sun  rose  and  the  sun  set ;  and  in  the 
daytime  the  heavenly  vault  displayed  its  uninterrupted 
azure,  and  at  night  the  vast  firmament  twinkled  with  its 
innumerable  stars,  and  still  we  remained  in  the  same  spot, 
with  the  same  headlands  ever  in  sight,  and  the  same 
uniform  sluggish  sounds  of  flapping  sails,  flaunting  ropes, 
creaking  timbers,  and  groaning  mast,  ever  dinning  in  our 
wearied  ears.  "  The  worst  storm,"  cried  I,  sighing, 
"  would  be  a  thousand  limes  preferable  to  the  nuisance 
of  a  calm  like  this !" 

The  storm  (which  happened  to  lurk  within  hearing) 
took  me  at  my  word.  Scarce  had  I  uttered  the  wish,  than 
ii  hastened  with  all  possible  alacrity  to  attend  the  invita- 
tion. A  white  fleece  arose  in  the  distant  sky;  a  dark 
streak  shot  across  the  wave  beneath  it ;  a  breeze,  in 
short,  was  felt.  This  breeze  became  a  gale,  and  this  gale 
grew  to  a  hurricane.  Angry  clouds,  gathering  on  all 
sides,  began  to  travel  in  every  direction  through  the  sky. 
They  met,  they  crossed,  and  stopped  each  other  as  if  to 
parley,  until  the  whole  heavenly  vault  became  a  continu- 
ous mass  of  darkness.  It  would  have  been  difficult  to 
decide  which  howled  the  most  dismally — the  frightened 
sailors,  lowering  the  yards,  closing  the  hatchways,  and 
clearing  the  deck — or  the  frightful  blast,  mocking  their 
petty  endeavours,  and  tearing  and  tumbling  every  thing 
about  our  ears.  It  kept  lashing  the  roaring  waves,  until 
they  alternately  heaved  us  up  on  their  foaming  backs  to 
the  sky,  or  shot  us  down  their  dark  sides  to  the  very 
bottom  of  the  sea. 

When  the  tempest  became  so  furious  that  each  sailor 
would  have  found  employment  for  a  dozen  hands,  they 
all  wisely  left  off  their  work,  to  fall  upon  their  knees, 
and  say  their  prayers.  Had  Saint  Spindion,  the  protector 
general  of  ships  in  distress,  been  ears  all  over,  he  scarce 
could  have  heard  or  heeded  all  the  vows  addressed  to  him 


ANASTASIUS.  141 

on  this  occasion.  But  the  more  we  prayed  the  more  the 
storm  coiitiiiued  blustering,  until  our  ship  must  inevitably 
have  sunk,  had  not  the  sailors  providentially  hit  upon  an 
infallible  expedient  for  appeasing  the  tempest. 

The  Jew,  who  during  the  whole  of  the  fine  weather 
had  made  sport  for  us  very  handsomely  on  deck,  at  the 
very  first  lowering  of  the  sky  had  taken  care  to  dive 
into  the  hold  among  the  ballast.  Entirely  forgotten  for 
a  while,  lie  just  happened  to  be  remembered  at  this  criti- 
cal period.  All  now  saw  as  plain  as  daylight  the  whole 
cause  of  the  hurricane,  as  well  as  the  remedy ;  and 
agreed  that  nothing  could  save  the  ship  but  dooming  the 
Hebrew  to  destruction.  Fairly  tossed  into  the  sea,  his 
life,  it  was  thought,  would  without  fail  appease  the  angry 
waves. 

The  poor  wretch  heard  from  his  hiding-place  the  appa^ 
ling  sentence.  He  strove  to  creep  under  the  loose  stones, 
where  he  was  almost  suffocated  ;  but  had  he  nestled  in 
their  very  heart,  like  a  toad,  he  could  not  have  escaped. 
Dragged  upon  the  deck,  no  entreaty  could  save  him  from 
his  impending  doom.  When,  however,  with  one  leg 
already  overboard,  he  saw  himself  on  the  brink  of  eter- 
nity, he  begged  to  ransom  his  life  for  money,  and  the 
befoie  penniless  creature  ofl'ered,  first,  one  piastre,  then 
two,  then  five,  then  a  dozen !  in  order  not  to  be  thus 
turned  adrift.  But  existence  was  ai  stake  with  the  sailors 
as  well  as  with  him ;  and  gold  had  lost  its  power.  They 
let  the  Hi^brew  drop. 

Meanwhile  I  fancied  the  storm  began  to  slacken.  I 
caught  the  drowning  wretch  by  his  coat,  and  still  keeping 
liim  suspended  over  the  roaring  abyss,  "  Hark  ye,  pali- 
karia,''*  said  I,  to  the  crew;  "the  question  is  not  what 
the  scoundrel  may  deserve  for  imposing  upon  our  <rood- 
nature ;  it  is  only  what  further  evils  we  may  sufi^r  by 
bringing  him  ro  (;oiidign  punishment.  Now,  if  the  mere 
sight  of  his  uncouth  figure  is  suffii-ient  to  frighten  t!ie  sea 
into  these  fits,  I  on\y  ask  yon,  what  she  will  do  with  his 
whole  ugly  carcass — skin  and  all — crammed  down  her 
throat?  It  will  make  her  throw  up — depend  upon  it-^ 
amid  fire  and  fiames,  some  worse  morsel  than  the  shoal 
near  Santoreen,  which,  they  say,  also  came  of  heedlessly 
drowning  a  .Few.  Let  us  therefore  appease  the  ruffled 
elements  only  by  quietly  squeezing  his  soul  out  of  him 

*  Palikaria— my  brave  fellows '. 


142  ANASTASIUS. 

on  the  deck,  in  tlic  shape  of  his  gohl,  whicli  it  would  be 
a  thousand  pities  to  throw  to  the  sharks.  In  my  quahty 
as  .Moslemin,  and  for  my  advice,  I  only  claim  half  the 
spoil." 

'J'he  wind  by  this  time  having  sensibly  abated,  the  pro- 
posal was  approved  of  by  the  majority;  the  few  that 
looked  askance  at  me  were  silenced  by  my  frowns;  and 
the  Jew,  tossed  into  tlie  vessel  again,  was  extended  on 
the  deck  to  be  searched. 

Mordecai's  vest,  trousers,  and  shirt  were  shaken  out 
first,  but  to  no  purpose  !  His  enormous  leather  belt  was 
next  attacked;  and  for  fear  of  losing  a  single  scruple  of 
tiie  wealth  its  weight  bespoke,  we  purposely  spread  a 
small  ihram*  underneath,  ere  we  began  the  dissection. 

All  eyes  were  riveted  on  the  delicate  puncture  which, 
while  two  sailors  held  the  ends  of  the  girdle,  I  made  in 
tile  middle  of  its  bloated  paunch  with  the  point  of  my 
sabre  ;  and  scarce  was  the  vein  opened  than  out  rushed, 
with  resistless  impetuosity,  such  a  stream,  not  indeed  of 
sequins,  but  of  paras  and  other  trash,  as  I  thought  would 
never  cease.  The  whole,  when  collected,  miglit  amount 
to  two  piastres! 

The  sailors  turned  pale  with  disappointment.  I  sym- 
pathized with  their  fecslings.  "Son  of  Satan  and  of  the 
wit(;h  of  Endor,"  exclaimed  I,  witii  lurious  gesture,  "  Do 
you  wish  me  to  treat  you  like  your  belt,  and  to  seek  for 
your  treasure  in  your  bowels  V  Mordecai  was  not  put 
to  the  trouble  of  answering;  for  on  my  clawing  lus  head 
to  give  it  a  shake,  his  caul  remained  in  my  hands — not  a 
mere  pliant  cap  like  other  cauls,  but  a  positive  muskel- 
proof  helmet  of  sequins  closely  sewed  in  the  cotton ! 
Tlie  belt  had  been  a  men;  decoy.  The  thought,  how- 
ever, striking  me  that,  where  the  head  was  so  well 
furnislied,  the  lieels  might  be  worth  looking  into,  [ 
p;i.ssed  from  one  extremity  to  tlie  other;  and  lo!  like  tlie 
dirty  caul,  the  clumsy  buskins  offered  a  solid  stratum  of 
gold ! 

His  bare  person  the  .Tew  evidently  considered  notliing 
worlli ;  for,  hard  as  li(>  liad  slruguled  for  life  while  iiis 
gold  remained  about  him,  as  soon  as  stripped  of  his  pelf 
lie  entreated  to  be  clespatclied  at  once,  Anotlier  vessel 
just  at  that  moment  was  haiUng  us  nut  far  off.  It  liad 
thrown  all  its  wati-r-casks  overboard  in  the  sU)nn,  and 

♦Ilirani — a  ii:i\il[  il^or  c.irpct,  ustd  i-liii"y  bv  tUc  Turks  for  prajors. 


ANASTASIUS.  113 

wanted  a  supply.  We  granted  the  request,  on  condition 
of  sending  Murdecai  into  the  bargain,  as  a  great  improve- 
ment upon  tlie  phui  of  drowning  him.  He  went  secured 
in  an  empty  barrel.  I  put  by  my  sequins ;  and  the  sailors 
liglited  two. tapers  extraordinary  before  the  Panagia. 

The  gale  whieh,  witlioui  remaining  utterly  unmanage- 
able, had  yet  not  entirely  fallen,  at  last  carried  us  full 
sail  into  the  straits  of  Chio,  and  the  distant  sound  of  bells, 
so  long  unheard,  again  struck  my  ears.  Though  now 
become  a  Mohammedan,  it  affected  me  with  inexpressible 
rapture.  The  feeling  of  approacliing  home,  however,  as 
it  strengthened,  became  sadder.  From  what  I  still  liopcd 
to  nnd  under  the  paternal  roof,  I  turned  my  thoughts  to 
what  I  was  to  find  no  more.  My  mother  had  not  been 
the  wisest  of  mothers — as  a  son  I  owed  her  not  unlimited 
gratitude ;  instead  of  cultivating  what  was  good,  and 
weeding  out  the  bad  germs  in  my  disposition,  slie  first 
had  spoiled  me,  and  then  had,  in  a  manner,  cast  me  off, 
as  entirely  good  for  nothing:  yet  she  had  been  my 
mother ;  and  however  lightly  all  the  later  ties  of  choice 
or  of  chance  often  sat  upon  my  mind,  however  often  I 
may  wantonly  have  broken  the  social  bands  of  friendship 
and  of  love,  the  primary  claims  of  nature  and  of  instinct 
seemed,  spite  of  mine  own  reasonings,  still  to  maintain 
their  roots  firm  in  my  heart. 

Absorbed  in  my  musing,  I  found  myself  opposite  the 
town  of  Chio,  ere  I  fancied  it  in  sight.  The  captain, 
however,  not  intending  to  run  into  the  harbour  until  the 
next  morning,  the  boat  took  us  ashore.  At  first  setting 
foot  on  the  beach,  I  thiew  myself  on  my  knees,  with  both 
hands  gathered  up  the  loved  dust  of  my  native  land,  ;iiid 
bringing  it  with  ecstasy  to  my  lips,  "  Ah,  my  own  parcntjil 
soil,"  cried  I,  in  a  wild  rapture,  "defiled  as  thou  art  by 
the  footsteps  of  rank  barbarians,  and  by  the  yoke  of 
ruthless  Tartars,  still  in  my  sold  I  worship  thee  with  un- 
ceasing devotion;  still  do  thy  homely  dwellin-js  and  thy 
arid  surface  more  entrai\ce  my  sate<l  sight,  than  all  the 
gilded  domes  of  Tchibouklce,  and  all  the  gaudy  ga.rdens 
of  Sultanieh  !"* 

As,  advancing  with  hurried  st('])S,  1  beheld  in  (juick 
succession  the  various  spots  «  ndeared  by  the  incidents  of 
my  early  vears,  the  agitation  of  my  mind  still  increased. 

*  TrhiboaU»'«  aui]  ^ultani.'li— ih»-  f.irrtior  h  hrantiful  vilUiar,  tlu-  l.itUr  a 


144  AlNastasitjs. 

Here  was  the  corner  of  the  quay  where,  with  other  boyg 
of  my  ag-e,  I  used  to  watch  the  ships  unloading.  There, 
at  the  turn  of  the  street,  stood  the  house  in  which  on  St. 
John's  eve  we  played  at  kleidon  rysika.*  A  little  farther 
on  I  passed  by  the  abode  of  our  ancient  .paramana,f 
■whose  nursery  tales  1  still  could  listen  to  with  pleasure. 
Right  over  the  way  my  eye  fell  on  the  fatal  window 
whence,  at  Easter,  a  whole  load  of  broken  pots  and  pans 
— the  wrecks  of  a  twelvemontlij — fell  on  my  devoted 
head.  Before  I  had  quite  done  looking  with  some  still 
remainiuir  fright  at  its  threatening  aperture,  I  stumbled 
over  the  steps  of  the  cross  old  witch's  hovel  vvhose  flesh- 
pot  I  filled  one  day  with  glue,  in  revenge  for  her  com- 
plaints of  me.  1  was  still  inwardly  laughing  at  the 
remembrance  of  her  fruitless  attempts  to  unclose  her 
toothless  gums,  when  I  grazed  the  stone  seat  of  a  house 
where — B  U  at  present  pass  we  on!  Suffice  it  to 
say,  tliat  out  of  the  desolate  open  entrance  there  seemed 
to  rush  a  chilling  blast,  which,  hastily  as  I  darted  by, 
chang  J  the  warm  moisture  on  my  forehead  into  a  cold 
clammy  dew  ! 

la  tins  way  did  an  uninterrupted  chain  of  recollections 
carry  me  on  from  the  waterside  to  my  pntemal  threshold. 
There,  all  seemed  solitude  and  desolation.  The  only 
acquaintance  remaining,  the  only  being  that  gave  nie 
■welcome,  was  Xeno  the  old  dog — procured  when  a  puppy 
from  the  consul,  and  reared  by  myself.  Many  a  time  he 
had  stood  sentinel  during  my  meetings  with  tlie  donor's 
daugtitei  ;  and  wlien  I  lied  from  my  liome,  1  had  been 
oblige  t  to  tie  him  to  a  post  on  the  quay,  lest  lie  should 
follow  me  to  the  sliip,  anfi  betray  me  by  liis  fidelity.  He 
still  sfcini'd  to  remember  his  old  master,  looked  up  in 
my  face  as  if  to  say,  "  what  had  he  done  to  be  thus 
desertc-'l,"  and  wagging  his  tail,  licked  my  hand.  His 
joyous  yelping  brought  down  an  unknown  femah;  of  un- 
courteoiis  appearance,  who  asked  my  business.  Having 
told  her  its  nature,  she  desired  me  to  go  to  the  garden 
in  the  Cainpo,  where  the  signor  drogueman  at  present 
resided. 

The  objects  I  met  in  my  way  to  tlie  country  were 
quite  as  interesting  as  those  which  I  had  passed  in  the 


'  Klei'ion  Rysika — the  ?amcofflrawing  lots  by  means  of  keys. 
I  Pararniiia— nuTHii. 

f  It  is  lii",  cuftoin  arnonj  iI)k  Orcck  islanders  to  preserve  the  broken  TesaeU 
Of  tt  twelvernontli,  In  order  lo  throw  tlicm  away  in  a  single  hcuoat  Christtua*. 


li 


ANASTASIUS.  145 

town.  But  in  the  one,  as  in  the  other,  I  perceived  a  change 
which  quite  confounded  all  my  calculations.  Every- 
thing still  stood  in  the  same  place;  every  thing  still 
preserved  the  same  shape  as  before  ;  but  the  dimensions 
appeared  totally  altered.  What  I  thought  I  had  left  huge, 
gigantic,  vast  as  the  tower  of  Babel,  now,  to  my  infinite 
surprise,  seemed  paltry,  diminutive,  reduced  to  the  size 
of  a  child's  plaything.  Houses,  gardens,  hills,  and  dales, 
all  looked  as  if,  since  my  childhood,  they  had  shrunk  to 
half  their  primitive  size.  A  few  steps  brought  me  to  the 
end  of  what  I  thought  covered  acres ;  and  what  for- 
merly I  fancied  reared  its  head  in  the  sky,  now  hardly 
rose  out  of  ground.  I  had  left  my  home  impressed 
with  the  magnitude  of  every  object !  to  the  first  images 
imprinted  in  my  memory  I  had  assimilated  all  the  vaster 
scenes  which  I  since  had  beheld ;  and  only  now  I  first 
perceived  tlie  dilTerence ;  and,  from  the  comparison, 
thought  what  I  saw  even  smaller  than  it  was. 

My  long  strides  soon  brought  me  abreast  with  a  little 
man,  advanced  in  years,  who  was  hobbling  on  before  me. 
The  few  additional  wrinkles  that  furrowed  his  face  could 
not  prevent  my  recognising  in  him  the  Signor  Polizoi,  an 
old  friend  of  the  family ;  while  to  his  failing  eyesight  my 
change  from  boy  to  man  left  me  an  entire  stranger. 
As  in  that  c*apacity  I  must  have  the  more  to  learn,  he 
seemed  to  increase  in  the  same  proportion  the  natural 
communicativeness  of  his  disposition.  At  my  request  he 
went  regularly  over  all  the  members  of  the  paternal  house, 
until  he  came'  to  a  certain  gi-aceless  youth,  named  Anas- 
tasius,  who,  he  informed  me  in  a  sort  of  confidential 
whisper,  was  the  saddest  reprobate  that  ever  had  dis- 
graced Ohio;  insomuch  that  even  he,  Polizoi — a  pri- 
mate as  he  was — never  felt  safe  from  his  pranks  while 
yet  only  a  boy;  and  if  he  met  him  now,  would,  he  verily 
believed,  die  with  positive  terror  ! 

Far  be  from  me  all  suspicion  of  an  intent  to  commit 
murder,  in  not  resisting  the  too  powerful  temptation  to 
acquaint  the  old  gentleman  that  this  reprobate  actually 
stood  before  him."  Thunderstruck  at  the  intelligence,  he 
stared  at  me  some  time  in  silent  and  motionless  horror ; 
then  suddenly  wheeled  about,  and  scampered  away.  My 
calling  till  1  grew  hoarse  could  neither  bring  him  back, 
nor  stop  his  progress.  Some  block  of  stone,  I  fancy,  was 
more  peisuasive;  for  I  heard  a  loud  tumble,  and  would 

Vol.  I.— G 


J4G  ANASTASITJS. 

have  gone  to  his  assistance,  when  the  sight  of  our  door 
drove  all  other  thoughts  away. 

I  paused  a  few  seconds  on  the  threshold.  Signor  Poli- 
zoTs  speech  had  taught  me  to  expect  little  kindness ;  "  and 
might  it  not,"  thought  I,  "be  preferable  to  fancy  what  was 
best,  than  to  be  certain  of  the  worst  ■?"  But  that  worst  I 
might  make  best  by  my  change  of  deportment !  I  there- 
fore entered. 

As  I  ascended  the  steps,  and  under  the  trellice  of  the 
landing  caught  my  father's  voice,  grown  tremulous  with 
age,  my  heart  began  to  throb.  He  was  conversing  with 
his  friends ;  and  the  ceaseless  grinding  of  the  water- 
wheel*  in  the  yard  prevented  his  hearing  my  approach. 
Unprepared,  he  saw  me  stand  before  him.  Perceiving 
his  surprise  at  the  appearance  of  one  in  the  Moslemin 
dress,  walking  in  thus  famiUarly,  "Sir,"  said  I,  "you see 
your  son."  At  these  words  my  father  started ;  yet  he 
seemed  moved,  and  made  a  sort  of  gesture  to  bid  me  wel- 
come ;  but  again,  suddenly  checking  himself,  as  he  caught 
my  brother  Constantine's  eye  scanning  his  countenance : 
"  The  sons  I  know,"  observed  he,  dryly, "  when  they  greet 
me,  begin  by  kissing  my  hands  :  I  know  none  other.  Per- 
haps you  are  only  come  to  wrest  from  them  their  remain- 
ing property,  and  to  leave  me,  in  my  old  age,  to  beg  my 
bread." 

I  was  going  to  make  the  only  fit  reply  in  my  power; 
to  throw  myself  on  the  ground  ;  to  kiss,  not  my  father's 
hands,  but  his  feet ;  to  beg  his  blessing,  and  to  renounce 
his  property, When  my  ungracious  brother  stepped  in  be- 
tween the  purpose  and  the  deed,  to  mar  all  my  good  intent. 
"  I  made  no  doubt,"  said  he,  in  a  brutal  tone,  "  that  after 
disgracing  your  famdy  by  your  conduct,  you  would  wish 
to  brave  it  by  your  presence  ;  but  truly,  you  should  avoid 
the  air  of  Cliristian  houses.  It  can  do  you  no  good,  and 
to  us  your  breath  is  pestilence." 

At  any  other  time  such  a  speech  would  instantly  have 
been  resented.  IJiit  I  felt  this  the  decisive  moment  of 
my  life.  1  stood  at  the  turn  between  good  and  evd.  I  de- 
termined to  repress  my  rising  wrath,  though  I  should 
choke  in  the  attempt. 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  to  my  father,  looking  earnestly  in  his 
face,  while  the  tears  ran  down  my  cheek,  "  is  it  your 
pleasure  that  T  sliould  be  treated  thus?" 

*  The  c<;a«el<;HH  grindinc  of  the  water-wheel — used  in  the  gardens  of  Cllio 
to  irrig&te  the  numeroiw  plantutiong  of  orange-trees. 


ANASTASIUS.  147 

This  unexpected  appeal  to  liis  feelings  seemed  for  a 
moment  to  stagger  m)--  parent.  But  whether  it  was  that 
he  felt  awed  by  my  brother,  who  ruled  him  with  a  rod  of 
iron,  or  that  his  own  heart  had  entirely  ceased  to  plead 
for  Anastasius,  "  Stanco,"  said  he,  coldly,  "  is  in  the  right. 
You  ought,  ere  this,  to  have  perceived  that  your  com- 
pany is  not  acceptable.  We  can  have  nothing  to  inter- 
change with  each  other.  Go,  therefore,  and  disturb  us 
no  longer." 

At  these  harsh  words  my  heart  swelled  till  it  was  ready 
to  burst.  Lest  my  enemies  should  have  the  pleasure  of 
beholding  me  unmanned,  I  turned  away,  and  leaned  over 
the  stone  parapet.  Had  Constantine  not  been  by,  I  should 
have  made  another  attempt  to  sooth  my  less  determined 
father.  In  his  presence,  I  knew  it  must  be  fruitless.  Yet 
I  hngered  on.  I  could  not  bring  myself  to  depart.  I  still 
hoped  to.be  called  back.  Alas  !  I  only  staid  to  hear  my 
brother  propose,  in  an  audible  whisper,  to  have  me  turned 
out. 

Turned  out  of  my  father's  house  !  It  was  too  much. 
I  rushed  away ! 

Sacred  walls  of  the  parental  mansion,  I  call  you  to  wit- 
ness 1  By  your  moaning  echoes  denounce  me  a  wretch 
to  all  future  ages, — be  the  name  of  Anastasius  in  my  na- 
tive land  the  name  of  guilt,  and  among  foreign  nations  a 
title  of  disgrace,  if  I  entered  not  your  sacred  threshold 
with  feelings  of  love,  of  peace  and  of  submission  !  Tliey 
were  rejected ;  they  were  spurned.  Let  those  thank 
themselves  for  other  sentiments  who  strove  to  obtain 
them !  "♦ 

In  three  strides  I  cleared — I  (fo  not  know  how — the 
fourteen  steps  of  the  precipitous  stone  flight ;  and  got  out 
at  the  gate.  Then,  turning  round  to  the  unkind  liabita- 
tion,  I  stopped,  once  more  to  contemplate — but  for  tlie 
last  time — its  well-remembered  features ;  before  always 
smiling,  now  frowning  upon  me.  "  Dear  abode,"  ex- 
claimed I,  "  where  first  I  received  the  now  irksome  boon 
of  life,  adieu  for  ever  !  Anastasius  no  more  shall  come 
within  thy  shade !  If  he  do,  may  it  prove  to  him  the  shade 
of  death  I"  This  said,  I  hurried  away,  as  if  pursued  by 
all  the  fiends  of  hell ;  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  again 
reached  the  town. 

Ah!  how  often  does  it  happen  in  life  that  the  most 
blissful  moments  of  ourreturnto  a  long-left  home  are  those 
riily  that  just  precede  the  instant  of  our  arrival;  those 
G2 


148  ANASTASIUS. 

during  which  the  imagination  still  is  allowed  to  paint  in 
its  own  unblended  colours,  the  promised  sweets  of  our 
reception !  How  often,  after  this  glowing  picture  of  the 
phantasy,  does  the  reality  which  follows  appear  cold  and 
comfortless  !  How  often  do  even  those  who  grieved  to 
see  us  dcpait  grieve  more  to  see  us  return;  and  how 
often  we  ourselves  only  suffer  sorrow  on  again  beholding 
the  friends  once  left  happy,  gay,  and  dispensing  joy  to 
others,  now  mournful,  disappointed,  and  themselves 
needing  what  consolation  we  may  bring ! 


CHAPTER  Xni. 

The  visit  to  my  father  was  not  the  only  fearful  duty  1 
had  to  perform.  Another  and  more  appalling  task  re- 
mained to  be  achieved.  Of  this,  however,  the  nature 
was  such  as  no  longer  to  leave  room  either  for  hope  or 
fear.  I  knew  the  worst,  and  grievously  did  that  worst 
oppress  luy  heart.  Helena — my  first  love — Helena  was 
no  more  !  At  Constantinople,  in  the  liey-day  of  my  devo- 
tion to  the  fair  l'ism6, 1  had  heard  lier  mournful  fate.  The 
moment  my  lliglit  from  Chio  was  known,  she  made  a  full 
confession.  To  avoid  unavailing  exposure,  the  consul 
•sent  her  for  (change  of  air  to  Samos.  There  she  was 
attended  by  one  of  those  nuns  of  St.  Ursula  who,  in  our 
islands,  double  the  merit  of  their  chastity  by  disclaiming 
the  defence  of  a  convent.  Wretched  from  the  first,  He- 
lena, as  tlie  hour  of  maternal  anguish  approached,  became 
every  day  more  impressed  with  the  idea  that  she  should 
not  survive  it.  In  this  persuasion  she  wrote  me  a  letter, 
whii-h  she  confided  to  the  nun,  and  soon  after  gave  birth 
to  a  dead  cliild.  In  conformity  with  her  foreboding  fears, 
or  ratlu-r,  perliapn,  in  consequence  of  her  appreliensions, 
she  only  survived  lier  babe  ;i  few  liours.  The  nun  had 
made  a  solemn  promise  not  to  part  witli  Iier  trust  except 
into  my  own  bands.  She  liowever  sent  me  word  at  Con- 
8tantino[)lc  that  it  only  waited  my  return  to  my  home. 
Hearing  that  slie  now  lived  at  Chio,  and  only  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  town,  I  went  to  claim  the  melancholy 
bequest.     I  found  Sister  Agnes  at  home,  and  alone.    The 


ANASTASIUS.  149 

people  with  whom  she  boarded  were  gone  to  a  neigli- 
bouring  fair. 

The  nun  had  heard  me  described  as  a  fair  complex- 
ioned  Greek  boy,  with  a  smooth  skin  and  flowing  locks. 
No  wonder,  therefore,  that,  in  the  swarthy  rough-cheeked 
Moslemin,  with  forehead  bare  and  shaded  lip,  she  should 
not  recognise  the  original  of  her  fancied  portrait.  The 
first  sight  of  my  fierce  figure,  standing  unannounced  be- 
fore the  lonely  maiden,  made  her  start  with  evident  sur- 
prise ;  but  when  I  showed  her  a  note  from  Anastasius, 
whose  handwriting  liad  met  her  eye  before,  she  became 
more  composed,  and  gave  me  the  history  of  Helena's  suf- 
ferings. Touched  with  a  sense  of  shame  for  the  ruin  I 
had  heaped  upon  the  innocent  girl,  1  had  determined, 
while  I  remained  in  the  presence  of  her  friend,  not  to  de- 
posite  my  assumed  character,  but  to  heai  the  tale  of  wo 
lo  the  end  with  pretended  unconcern.  Soon,  however, 
unbidden  tears  would  start,  and  began  to  flow  so  fast,  that 
for  fear  of  betraying  my  feelings  I  hid  my  face  in  my 
cloak.  Even  that  could  not  conceal  from  the  quick- 
sighted  nun  the  anguish  wliich  throbbed  beneath  its  gaudy 
trappings.  "  I  wonder  not,  sir,"  said  she,  "  to  see  you 
moved.  In  truth,  the  story  is  touching,  and  calculated  to 
affect  even  the  stout  heart  of  an  Osmanlee.  But  to  be- 
hold such  deep  emotion  in  a  stranger !  while  the  author 
of  so  much  wo,  while  Anastasius  himself — " 

Here  all  control  over  my  tongue  forsook  me.  "  I  am 
that  Anastasius,"  cried  I ;  "  could  you  a  moment  doubt  it?" 

The  nun  appeared  confounded.  Shuddering  with  hor- 
ror at  finding  herself  thus  unconsciously  in  the  actual 
presence  of  him  whom  she  looked  upon  as  her  friend's 
murderer ;  as  little  less  than  a  devil  incarnate— a  com- 
plete fiend!— she  darted  at  me  the  gesture  of  anatliema,* 
and  to  the  dread  sign  added  such  dire  imprecations,  that 
I  could  not  help  mechanically  uncovering  my  breast,  and 
wetting  it  with  tlie  moisture  of  my  lips,t  to  avcit  the  evil 
influence.  This  action,  however,  did  not  prevent  a  tor- 
rent of  more  explicit  abuse  from  following  the  first  vague 
explosion  of  anger ;  and  a  full  quarter  of  an  hour  did  Sister 
Agnes  rant,  and  rave,  and  sputter,  ere  I  could  find  an 
opportunity  of  claiming  the  letter  I  had  been  promised. 

*  The  gesture  of  anathema— directing  the  outstretched  hands  and  fingers 
ttowards  The  object  of  imprecation.  .v,    w  .» 

\  With  tlie  moisture  of  my  hps— the  mode  in  which  the  Greeks  tfliDK  to 
fi/erl  ite  influejice  cf  the  evil  eye  or  other  ominous  circumstances. 


150  ANASTASIirS. 

With  a  hand  still  trembling  with  rage,  she  at  last  took  it 
out  of  a  small  casket,  and  bade  me  read — with  compunc- 
tion if  I  could — the  last  words  of  my  lovely  and  murdered 
mistress. 

They  were  these : 

"  I  neither  reproach  you  with  my  ruin,  which  was  my 
own  fault,  nor  with  your  want  of  love,  which  was  not 
yours.  It  depends  not  on  ourselves  to  love ;  but  it  does 
to  be  merciful,  and  you  were  inhuman  :  you  deliberately 
pierced  that  heart  in  which  you  were  worshipped,  and  of 
this  deed  I  die.  On  a  foreign  shore  I  soon  shall  breathe 
my  last,  and  my  wretched  father,  who  expected  in  me 
the  comfort  of  his  old  age,  shall  see  me  no  more.  Thanks 
be  to  God!  the  author  of  my  unfortunate  existence 
shall  not  have  to  blush  at  the  sight  of  his  daughter ;  nor 
shall  I,  wont  to  look  up  with  the  confidence  of  innocence, 
have  to  avert  my  eyes  with  shame  from  a  parent.  For 
the  unfortunate  offspring — I  dare  not  say  of  our  love — 
which  i)orhaps  may  survive  me,  I  must  not  claim  a  father's 
care.  You  have  trod  under  foot  the  duties  which  you 
owed  her  who  in  the  eye  of  Heaven  was  your  wife,  and 
had  committed  no  offence,  except  loving  you  too  ardently. 
My  child  will  be  abandoned  to  the  hands  of  strangers; 
will  live  in  contempt,  and  die  in  misery.  But  should 
Heaven  ever  bestow  upon  you  the  pledges  of  a  less  ill- 
requited  affection,  fear,  ah  fear  lest  my  infant's  wrongs  be 
visited  upon  them !  Yet,  if  the  last  words  of  a  wretch, 
who  is  afraid  her  love  will  only  cease  with  her  hfe,  can 
find  entrance  into  your  too  impenetrable  lieart,  ah,  Anas- 
tasius!  ah,my  Anastasius!  repentofyoursins,runnot  from 
crime  to  crime,  and  revenge  not  my  woes  so  severely  on 
yourself  as  to  leave  us  no  chance  of  ever  meeting  again." 

The  time  that  had  intervened  between  the  writing  and 
the  perusal  of  this  letter  might  already  be  counted  by 
years.  The  fair  writer  had  ceased,  not  only  to  exist,  but 
to  be  the  sut)ject  of  the  public  talk.  The  guilty  indi- 
vidual to  whom  it  was  addressed  was  from  a  boy  become 
a  man.  The  event  of  wiiich  he  was  the  worthless  hero 
hafl  been  forgotten,  even  in  the  district  where  it  took  place, 
for  more  recent  adventures,  and  the  very  ink  of  the  ad- 
monition had  already  become  pale.  Still  did  my  heart 
feel  every  sentence  of  tlie  appeal  as  if  in  all  the  freshness 
of  its  first  inditing.  It  forgot  the  lapse  of  time,  and 
became  filled  at  once  with  sadness  as  sincere  and  pro- 
found as  if  Helena's  last  despairing  sighs  still  were  breath- 


ANASTASIUS.  151 

ing  on  my  ear !  Keeping  the  sacred  characters  pressed 
to  my  lips,  I  struck  my  heaving  bosom,  and  flung  myself 
on  the  floor.  "  Here,"  cried  I,  "  let  me  lie,  and  commune 
undisturbed  with  my  wretched  soul ;  here  let  me  shed 
tears  of  blood  for  her  whom  I  first  learned  to  prize,  when 
through  my  fault  I  had  lost  her  for  ever  1" 

Had  Sister  Agnes  known  the  omnipotence  of  mercy — 
had  my  penitent,  my  humble  suit  been  unconditionally 
granted,  who  knows  what  richer  fruits  my  first  contrition 
bj''  degrees  might  have  borne.  None  such  were  in  store. 
for  the  destroyer  of  Helena !  The  nun,  the  fatal  nun, 
more  impelled  by  vanity  than  by  friendship,  more  anxious 
to  see  my  sex  humbled  than  her  own  exalted,  was  not 
•satisfied  with  my  writhing  under  the  reproaches  of  my 
own  conscience,  unless  I  also  smarted  from  the  sting  of 
her  viper  tongue.  So  keenly  did  she  sharpen  its  dart,  so 
many  little  punctures  did  she  one  by  one  inflict,  so  much 
venom  did  she  pour  into  each  wound,  that  resentment  at 
last  left  not  room  for  regret,  and  mstead  of  slowly  rising 
with  resolves  of  amendment,  I  hastily  started  up  with 
schemes  of  revenge.  A  mean,  ungenerous  triumph  over 
one  already  prostrate  deserved  an  exemplary  punishment; 
and  Sister  Agnes  had  wondered  so  much  how  one  like 
me  could  have  charmed  her  lost  friend,  that  it  seemed  but 
justice  to  that  friend  to  let  her  wonder  no  longer. 

Assuredly,  Sister  Agnes,  who  so  often  had  heard  the 
awful  tale  of  my  unworthiness,  and  so  closely  had  wit- 
nessed the  last  pangs  of  my  victim ;  Sister  Agnes,  whose 
green  curses  still  pursued  me  when  her  friend's  less 
wrathful  farewell  was  already  faded  by  time  ;  Sister 
Agnes,  wIk)  to  a  worthy  and  discreet  lover  of  her  own 
had  shown  the  most  perverse  and  relentless  hard-hearted- 
iiess :  Sister  Agnes,  1  say,  ought,  of  all  women  upon  earth, 
to  have  been  the  least  accessible  to  the  lures  of  my 
tongue ;  and,  both  from  her  knowledge  of  me  and  her 
respect  for  Helena,  to  have  most  victoriously  resisted  my 
most  persevering  suit :  but  it  seems  as  if  all  these  cir- 
cumstances only  had  combined  to  manifest  either  my 
superior  gifts  or  the  nun's  excessive  weakness  :  for  whe- 
ther warmed  by  her  own  tale,  or  surprised  by  the  cool- 
ness of  my  abrupt  attack,  when  from  slieer  bitterness  of 
heart  I  off"ered  tlie  semblance  of  a  very  different  feeling, 
she  neither  checked  my  boldness  nor  resented  my  beha- 
viour; and  though  I  employed  neither  promises  nor 
tlu'eats,  appearance  of  love  nor  demonstrations  of  esteem. 


1 52  ANASTASIUS. 

soon  lived  to  owe  virtue  only  to  my  contemptuous  for- 
bearance, and  to  entitle  me — after  the  haughty  dame  had 
sneeringly  exclaimed,  "  You  of  all  men!" — to  retort  by 
exclaiming  with  equal  emphasis,  in  my  turn  in  the  same 
tone — "  and  you  of  all  women !" 

Notwithstanding  the  ill  success  of  my  visit  to  my  father, 
1  had  not  yet  given  up  all  hopes  of  being  restored  to  his 
favour.  Knowing  the  uselessness  of  any  attempt  at  a 
conciliatory  interview,  where  I  felt  sure  my  brother  would 
remain  on  the  watch  to  efface  its  impressions,  I  penned  a 
letter  replete  with  every  possible  offer  of  submission  and 
sacrifice,  consistent  with  my  safety  as  a  follower  of  Islam, 
and  sent  it  to  its  destination  by  a  common  friend.  Inde- 
pendent of  the  force  of  paternal  feelings  in  the  head  of  the 
fainily,  I  depended  upon  the  suggestions  of  policy  in  the 
younger  branches.  Hatred  prevailed  over  prudence,  and 
I  received  no  answer !  After  lingering  several  days  in 
fruitless  expectation,  I  at  last  prepared  to  leave  Chio. 

Ever  shice  the  sight  of  home  had  revived  ancient  recol- 
lections, and  with  them  the  remorse  for  ancient  misdeeds, 
I  had  panted  for  a  journey  to  Samos,  there  to  perform  on 
the  lonely  grave  of  my  Helena  the  sad  rites  of  contrition 
and  penance.  On  the  morning  of  my  own  birthday,  I 
proceeded  to  the  not  far  island,  whose  privileged  earth 
held  the  sacred  deposite ;  landed  on  its  rocky  shore  early 
in  the  afternoon,  and  ere  the  evening  cast  its  lengthened 
shadows  aromid,  reached  the  hallowed  spot,  sole  object 
of  my  visit. 

The  sun's  departing  rays  were  just  gliding  from  the 
moss-grown  tomb.  I  approached  it  with  awe :  strewed 
upon  it  th(;  wild  flowers  which  had  grown  in  its  shade  ; 
bedewed  its  silent  stones  with  tears  of  grief  and  remorse, 
and  over  the  ill-fated  treasure  underneath  poured  out  my 
heart's  bitter  anguish  in  alternate  groans  and  prayers. 
The  whole  night  Helena's  gravestone  was  my  pillow; 
and  early  the  next  morning,  ere  yet  the  orb  of  day  rose 
out  of  the  sparkling  wave — making  my  dagger  my  pen — 
I  traced  on  the  dusky  slab,  as  on  the  recording  roll,  my 
Christian,  my  Grecian,  my  old  name  Anastasius — filled 
in  the  deep  sunk  characters  with  the  hot  stream  from  my 
own  bosom;  and  exclaiming,  "with  the  purple  of  my 
own  blood  i  sign  tlie  marriage  contract  !*  I  make  thee 
mine  in  death,  and  make  thee  mine  in  life  hereafter!'* 

*  With  the  purple  of  my  own  blood  I  sign,  &n.— Alluding,  I  suppose,  to  tho 
custom  of  the  Greek  emperors  of  signing  itieir  name  with  purple. 


ANASTASIUS.  153 

For  the  last  time  imprinted  my  quivering  lips  on  the 
cold  marble,  and  rushed  away  from  death's  receptacle, 
which  I  had  made  my  nuptial  couch. 

By  this  expiatory  visit  I  felt  my  heart  somewhat 
relieved.  I  thought  my  Helena  might,  from  the  higher 
regions  where  she  dwelt,  have  viewed,  if  not  in  forgive- 
ness, at  least  in  pity,  my  tardy  atonement ;  and  with  a 
lightness  of  soul  to  which  I  long  had  been  a  stranger,  I 
proceeded  to  Paros,  and  there  spent  a  day  or  two  with 
some  of  my  old  kinsmen.  Dull,  stupid  islanders  as  they 
were,  they  entertained  me  not  the  less  kindly  for  being 
out  of  favour  at  Stambool,  and  when  1  went  on  to  Naxia, 
actually  expressed  a  wish  that  I  might  visit  them  again ! 

At  Naxos  reigned  supreme,  under  tlie  wide-spreading 
wing  of  Hassan-pasha's  all-powerful  protection,  my  ma- 
ternal cousin  Marco  Politi,  heir  to  all  the  favour  which 
the  papas  his  uncle  had  enjoyed  before  him  with  the  grand 
admiral,  and  sole  epitrope*  of  the  Greek  villages  that 
cover  the  island.  From  every  one  of  these  individually 
might  this  wily  and  ambitious  personage  be  said  to  wage 
an  incessant  warfare  against  the  Latin  inhabitants  of  the 
city,  and  if  the  Grimaldis,  the  Giustinians,  and  the  Ba- 
rozzis  of  yore  once  caused  Marco's  forefathers  to  groan 
under  the  weight  of  the  Venetian  yoke,  amply  did  INIarco 
now  make  the  miserable  relics  of  these  proud  families 
pay  for  the  sins  of  their  slumbering  ancestors.  He  kept 
them  absolutely  shut  up  in  their  citadel  and  towers. 
Fearful  of  letting  down  their  drawbridges  to  take  a  stroll 
in  the  fields,  they  envied  their  own  flocks  of  pigeons  the 
liberty  of  their  roamings,  and  seemed  perched  up  in  their 
lofty  habitations  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  ha^'e  a  better 
bird's-eye  view  of  their  adversary,  leisurely  walking  forth 
to  skim  the  fatness  of  the  land,  and  going  his  rounds 
among  the  peasantry  to  reap  the  choicest  f"ruits,  and  to 
levy  his  tithe  on  its  fine  wines,  its  fragrant  oils,  its  rich 
honey,  and  its  delicious  cream — while  they,  to  beguile 
gnawing  hunger,  often  only  had  the  hollow  feast  of  their 
ancestors'  mouldering  insignia  clumsily  carved  over  their 
melancholy  gates !  Such  was  their  dread  of  Marco's  hos- 
tility and  power,  that  whenever  he  made  a  trip  to  Con- 
stantinople the  whole  nobility  of  Naxos  took  to  their 
beds  in  expectation  of  some  new  avaniah.f 

*  Epitrope — primate  of  a  Greek  community. 

t  Avaniah — name  given  to  a  contribution  imposed  by  Turks  on  rayalis,  on 
some  unfounded  pretence. 

G3 


1 54  ANASTASirS. 

Of  his  own  villages  Marco  was  the  idol.  Like  other 
idols,  indeed,  he  was  not  to  be  worshipped  empty-handed. 
But  he  hated  the  Latins  so  cordially,  that  it  was  univer- 
sally alloAved  he  must  feel  an  unbounded  love  for  his 
Greek  countrymen.  The  more,  therefore,  in  his  manage- 
ment of  the  haratsch  and  tlie  other  contributions  to  the 
Turks,  he  squeezed  out  their  inmost  substance  into  his 
own  reservoirs,  the  more  he  was  thanked  for  his  disinte- 
restedness and  public  spirit.  If  Marco  had  any  private 
foibles,  they  were,  like  those  of  other  great  men,  deemed 
more  than  atoned  for  by  his  public  virtues.  This  was  his 
own  opinion  also  ;  and  it  even  appeared,  as  he  observed, 
to  be  that  of  the  higher  powers  themselves,  from  the  fre- 
quent signal  interpositions  of  Providence  in  his  favour, 
and  the  almost  miraculous  manner  in  which  his  greatest 
enemies  had  been  disabled  from  putting  their  wicked  pur- 
poses against  him  in  execution,  by  almost  always  dis- 
appearing— nobody  knew  how  or  where — just  at  the  junc- 
ture when  he  seemed  exposed  to  the  greatest  danger,  or 
involved  in  the  most  inextricable  difficulties. 

It  was  from  a  kinsman  thus  mighty  and  thus  fortunate, 
that  within  his  own  dominions  I,  a  poor  unprotected 
stranger,  had  to  claim  an  estate,  which  he  called  my 
mother's  indeed,  but  which  for  upwards  of  five-and- 
twenty  years  he  had  taken  care  to  nurse  as  his  own.  My 
first  point  for  consideration,  therefore,  on  landing  was, 
whether  I  should  at  once  offer  to  him  my  unwelcome 
visage,  or  first  keep  myself  in  abeyance  until  I  had  tried 
my  ground.  It  was  not  exactly  the  dictates  of  reason 
which  decided  my  conduct.  During  the  conflict  in  my 
mind,  I  filled,  by  way  of  assisting  my  judgment,  a  cup  of 
that  delicious  muscadcl  in  which  I  was  credibly  assured 
Theseus  had  on  that  very  spot  pledged  Ariadne.  But 
just  when  in  contact  with  my  lips,  the  still  untasted  glass 
slipped  through  my  fingers,  as  tlie  hero  did  through  those 
of  the  nymph.  "  I  accept  the  favourable  omen,"  cried  I 
(to  my  Frank  readers  it  may  not  appear  such),  and  re- 
solved to  dare  my  antagonist  at  once.  "  Let  me  seem  to 
fear  no  one,"  was  my  maxim,  "  and  some  may  fear  me." 

Upon  this  I  immediately  set  out  for  the  village  of  Tri- 
malia,  where  the  primate  resided.  He  was  employed 
with  his  men  in  the  fields.  The  day  being  sultry,  I  threw 
off  my  cloak  in  a  corner  of  the  house,  and  went  out  with 
a  servant  in  search  of  liis  master.  We  found  Marco  in  a 
little  valley,  under  an  old  olive-tree,  in  the  midst  of  his 


a:nastasius.  155 

farmers,  finishing  a  frugal  repast.  He  appeared  to  be 
mating  with  uncommon  relish  a  crust  of  black  barley- 
bread,  and  enlarging  with  great  earnestness  on  its  pecu- 
liar excellence  and  flavour,  wheumy  salutation  interrupted 
the  eulogy. 

My  tone  was  civil,  but  decided.  I  told  his  primateship, 
that  in  conformity  1o  the  established  custom  of  informing 
near  relations  and  friends  of  especial  calamities,  1  had 
thought  it  my  duty  to  acquaint  him  with  the  misfortune 
i  had  had  of  turning  Mohammedan  ;  and  added,  how  very 
much  I  regretted  my  being  obhged,  out  of  respect  for  my 
new  religion,  to  i-laim  my  mother's  estate,  till  then  in- 
trusted to  his  management.  This  circumstance  he  re- 
gretted as  sincerely  as  myself;  and  the  more  when  I 
hinted  how  absolutely  my  particular  situation  prohibited 
me  from  disregarding  the  partiality  of  the  Moslemin  law 
to  its  new  proselytes,  and  the  powerful  support  I  was 
promised  by  the  Turkish  ministers  in  maintaining  my 
privilege,  and  which,  to  say  the  truth,  I  a  little  exagge- 
rated. At  the  concdusion  of  my  speech,  however,  I  as- 
sured my  cousin  that  I  did  not  think  my  obligations  to 
my  new  creed  so  very  strict,  but  that  I  might  consider 
myself  warranted  in  some  degree  to  proportion  my  fa- 
cility in  passing  old  and  intricate  accounts  to  the  alacrity 
I  found  in  giving  up  the  trust. 

Much  against  my  expectation,  my  relation  expressed 
entire  readiness  to  conform  to  circumstances.  No  ex- 
ception was  taken  to  any  part  of  my  statement.  Nay, 
my  avowed  determination  to  disregard  all  opposition 
seemed  rather  to  increase  INIarco's  apparent  cordiality  and 
frankness.  He  even  pressed  me  so  earnestly  to  take  up 
my  abode  with  him  during  my  stay  at  Naxos,  that  I  found 
some  difficulty  in  handsomely  decHning  the  offer ;  but  my 
obstinacy  being  eijual  to  his  solicitation,  I  at  last,  after 
fixing  the  time  the  next  day  when  I  was  to  return  and 
enter  upon  business,  took  my  leave,  and  bent  my  steps 
towards  the  town. 

Scarce  had  I  gone  three  hundred  yards,  when  I  remem- 
bered the  cloak  I  had  left  behind.  Returning  back  to  the 
house  the  shortest  way  across  the  fields  to  fetch  it,  my 
path  led  me  by  the  side  of  a  thick  lentiscus  hedge  which 
surrounded  the  garden.  To  this  my  cousin  had  by  this 
time  retired  with  his  confidential  agent,  for  the  purpose 
of  more  private  conversation.  As  I  ap|)roached,  I  could 
not  lielp  hearing  my  ownjiame  uttered  with  such  empha- 


156  ANASTASIUS. 

sis,  that  I  was  tempted  to  stop  and  indulge  for  a  few 
minutes  in  the  contemplation  of  the  beautiful  shrubs 
which  formed  the  enclosure.  Meantime  Marco  was  pro- 
ceeding witli  his  conversation.  "  Cannot  you  under- 
stand," said  he  to  his  confidant,  in  rather  a  louder  tone 
than  became  so  wary  a  personage, "  that  if  I  had  attempted 
at  once  to  oppose  his  claim,  he  would  immediately  have 
resorted  to  the  most  effective  means  for  enforcing  his  de- 
mands, and  the  world  would  infallibly  have  joined  him  in 
condemning  my  proceedings;  whereas,  by  admitting  his 
title  in  the  gross,  I  begin  by  lulling  asleep  his  suspicions, 
gain  credit  with  others  for  fair  dealing,  and  then,  by  every 
quibble  about  the  items,  and  every  delay  in  the  forms  of 
law,  defeat  his  purpose  in  detail,  and  tire  out  his  very 
heart,  before  he  gets  from  me  a  single  inch  of  his  estate?" 
This  plan  of  the  campaign  seemed  so  well  worth  an  old 
cloak,  that  I  left  mine  for  the  present  unclaimed,  and, 
M'heeling  about,  went  straight  to  the  town. 

But  I  had  my  cue  for  the  interview  of  the  next  day. 
When,  therefore,  I  found  in  the  course  of  the  discussion 
to  wliich  it  led  the  more  Marco  explained  the  less  I  un- 
derstood, and  that  certainly  I  was  much  less  master  of 
the  subject  at  the  conclusion  of  the  sitting  than  I  thought 
myself  at  the  opening,  I  ratlier  abruptly  broke  off  the 
conference,  and  rising,  said,  in  the  smoothest  tone  I  was 
master  of,  "Hark  ye,  cousin;  I  make  no  doubt  that  you 
have  brought  forward  every  quibble  concerning  the  items, 
and  equally  mean  to  use  every  delay  in  tlie  forms  of  law, 
which  belong  to  so  able  a  diplomatist ;  but  this  I  would 
have  you  remember,  that  wlien,  thanks  to  its  unraveller, 
a  business  is  become  so  thoroughly  entangled  as  to  defy 
the  keenest  intellect,  I  know  but  of  one  way  to  cut  the 
knot  asunder;  and  that,"  added  I,  pointing  to  my  yata- 
gan,  "  is  with  a  good  Damascus  blade ;  and  so  fare  ye 
well." 

Marco  was  fonder  of  diplomacy  than  of  fighting.  He 
knew  his  cousin  to  be  a  desperate  fellow,  and  he  began  to 
think  his  agent  a  traitor.  In  tliis  double  apprehension, 
he  delivered  over  the  whole  concern  into  my  hands,  in- 
cluding every  deed,  agreement,  bill,  and  receipt,  accu- 
mulated upon  the  estate  since  the  last  clearance  of  the 
deluge.  "  What  a  thing  it  is,"  thought  I,  "  to  show  a 
little  mettle !" 

But  I  soon  found  I  had  by  mine  got  more  than  enough. 
Many  of  the  transactions  relative  to  the  property,  in  the 


AXASTASIPS.  157 

way  Marco  had  managed  them,  were  to  me  inexplicable 
enigmas,  and  this  the  scoundrel  knew.  The  moment  I 
was  proclaimed  sole  possessor  of  the  estate,  and  sole  re- 
spondent for  every  claim  relating  to  it,  there  came  upon 
me  a  host  of  creditors  of  every  description,  from  the 
bishop  who  had  witnessed  my  mother's  will  to  the  moiro- 
logistri*  who  had  wept  at  her  funeral,  which  I  verily  be- 
lieve Marco  had  kept  back  on  purpose  for  the  occasion. 
With  this  posse  constantly  at  my  heels,  I  did  not  know 
which  way  to  turn  myself.  My  cousin  Marco,  mean- 
while, was  all  at  once  become  so  very  discreet,  as  to  de- 
cline interfering  even  in  the  smallest  trifle,  or  offering  his 
opinion  on  the  simplest  question,  until  he  had  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  me  fairly  worn  out  with  business  and 
with  perplexity.  He  then  ventured  to  suggest  that  the 
science  of  accounts  did  not  seem  to  be  that  which  was 
most  congenial  to  my  disposition,  and  proposed  (but  with 
the  sole  view  of  relieving  me)  to  take  over  the  estate  en- 
tirely for  a  round  sum  of  money.  Convinced  by  this  time 
that  every  fresh  step  I  took  in  the  management  would 
only  lead  to  fresh  confusion,  I  was  become  vastly  more 
tractable,  and  so,  after  a  little  demur,  agreed  to  have  the 
property  valued.  This  was  done  by  arbitrators,  all  so 
very  liberal  in  their  concessions  on  my  part,  that  the  estate 
was  estimated  at  about  half  its  real  worth.  But  this  half 
was  tendered  in  ready  cash ;  and  taking  into  considera- 
tion what  most  men  who  drive  close  bargains  seem  en- 
tirely to  overlook,  the  waste  of  time,  temper,  and  breath 
in  standing  out  for  more,  I  accepted  the  sum  offered, 
signed  the  proper  receipts,  put  my  capital  into  my  bag, 
and  took  leave  of  Marco  to  return  to  the  town. 

Wiietheror  not  I  might  think  the  money  too  little  to 
take,  Marco  evidently  still  thought  it  too  much  to  part 
with.  Most  kindly  he  had  stationed  two  of  his  trustiest 
myrmidons  in  a  narrow  lane  only  just  outside  his  gate, 
in  order  to  rid  me  of  the  burthen  as  soon  as  possible.  At 
my  going  he  so  earnestly  recommended  tlie  utmost  cau- 
tion, and^so  pathetically  lamented  the  unsafeness  of  the 
path,  that  it  struck  me  "he  must  have  good  authority  for 
his  surmises,  and  considered  I  could  not  show  my  sense 
of  his  solicitude  more  effectually  than  by  avoiding  alto- 
gether the  road  to  which  he  gave  so  ill  a  character. 
Accordingly,  I  waited  not  even  till  I  was  out  of  my 

*  Moiro-Iogistri— the  hired  female  who  in  some  of  tin;  Greek  islands  still 
follows  a  funeral,  singing  the  praises,  and  bewailing  the  loss  ol  the  deceased. 


158  ANASTASIUS. 

cousin's  premises ;  but  as  soon  as  out  of  his  sight  jumped 
nimbly  over  a  hedge,  and  soon  got  entirely  clear  of  his 
outpost.  I  might  never  have  more  than  surmised  the 
favour  intended  for  me,  had  I  not  learned  all  the  particu- 
lars of  the  scheme  the  very  next  day  from  his  own  deputy. 
This  worthy  person,  having  been  drubbed  by  his  master 
for  not  stopping  me,  came  to  demand  a  compliment  for 
the  civility  of  his  forbearance.  "  Then,"  said  I,  "  you 
really  saw  me  pass  by  ?"  "  Yes."  "  And  intentionally 
permitted  my  escape  V  "  No  doubt."  "  Nor  let  me  go 
home  unmolested  only  because  you  could  not  help  it  ]" 
"  No,  indeed."  "  If  so,"  exclaimed  I,  "  Heaven  forbid  I 
should  encourage  disobedience  in  servants !  You  were 
sent  by  your  principal  to  rob  me,  and  you  ought  to  have 
done  as  you  were  bid.  Here  is  all  the  compliment  I  can 
in  conscience  make."  Upon  which  I  gave  the  fellow  a 
second  drubbing,  and  desired  him  to  inform  his  master 
of  my  proceeding ;  but  this  he  neglected. 

Fronj  that  day  forward,  however,  I  thought  it  prudent 
not  to  take  long  walks  by  myself  in  the  country  ;  nor  to 
put  the  obedience  of  my  cousin  Marco's  servants  a 
second  time  to  the  test.  I  remained  chiefly  among  the 
liatin  inhabitants  of  the  castle,  until  a  conveyance  should 
ofl'er  for  some  other  place,  which  only  seldom  occurs  in 
an  island  destitute  of  harbour,  and  rarely  visited  by  ships. 
lUit  my  time  hung  far  from  heavy  upon  my  hands.  I 
was  treated  among  the  Catholics,  in  my  quality  of  Mosle- 
inin,  with  very  great  deference.  The  chancellor  held  my 
stirrup;  the  fiscal  lit  my  pipe,  and  the  archbishop — an 
entertaining  old  capuchin — used,  he  swore,  when  I  went 
out,  to  recite  prayers  in  his  chapel  for  my  safe  return.  I 
paid  these  civilities  in  Constantinople  news.  What  I 
brouglit  not  I  made;  but  this  only  rendered  it  the  more 
novel  and  acceptable.  All  I  regretted  was  occasioning  a 
schism  between  church  and  state.  I  had  spread  the  re- 
port of  a  secret  correspondence  between  the  grand  signor 
and  the  pope  on  an  intended  conversion  of  the  former  to 
the  ('atliolic  faith ;  and  upon  this  the  chancellor  and  the 
archbishop  quanelled  who  should  sign  the  address  of  con- 
gratulation. Before  the  question  was  decided,  a  khir- 
langitsch*  of  the  admiralty,  which  had  spent  the  summer 
in  a  fruitless  chase  of  the  Maltese  corsairs,  cast  anchor 
at  St.  Mary's  in  the  neighbouring  island  of  Paros,  and 

*  Khirlangiisch— properly  a  swallow;  a  Turkish  sloop  of  war. 


ANASTASltJS.  1 59 

induced  me  to  take  my  departure.  Just  on  setting  out, 
however,  a  perhaps  too  fastidious  scruple  arose  in  my 
mind.  I  did  not  like  to  go  without  making  my  cousin 
Marco  some  acknowledgment  for  his  last  mark  of  atten- 
tion, however  unsuccessful  it  had  been.  Five  or  six 
honest  lads  were  come  from  the  khirlangitsch  to  fetch 
me  away  in  their  boat.  With  a  handful  of  Marco's  own 
piastres  I  made  it  worth  their  while  to  convey  to  the  pri- 
mate my  leave-taking  in  the  most  cordial  manner.  But 
as  my  cousin  had  taught  me  by  his  example  how  neces- 
sary it  is  for  the  master's  eye  to  watch  delicate  commis- 
sions, I  superintended  the  business  myself.  From  the 
high  bank  of  the  lane  which  led  to  Marco's  fields  I  had 
tlie  satisfaction  not  only  of  seeing  my  relation  soundly 
bastinadoed,  but  of  condoling  with  him  as  pathetically  as 
he  had  done  with  me  on  the  unsafeness  of  the  path. 
This  performed,  ere  he  had  time  to  get  up  and  to  crawl 
home,  I  bade  him  adieu,  scampered  away  with  my  asso- 
ciates to  the  boat  which  lay  waiting  under  a  cliff  only  a 
few  hundred  yards  off,  and  was  rowed  to  Parecchia. 
From  that  port  I  got  in  a  few  hours,  across  the  moun- 
tains, to  St.  Mary's  and  on  board  the  khirlangitsch. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  cutter  which  touched  at  Paros  so  conveniently 
was  on  its  way  to  receive  the  annual  contribution  of  part 
of  the  circumjacent  islands,  and  was  to  finish  its  cruise 
at  Rhodes.  This  destination  perfectly  suited  my  purpose. 
In  want  of  occupation,  and  without  any  precise  aim, 
Rhodes  promised  a  scene  of  interest  to  which  I  hastened 
with  pleasure. 

As  my  former  connexions  with  the  arsenal  gave  me  a 
certain  predilection  for  whatever  belonged  to  the  navy,  I 
speedily  formed  an  acquaintance  with  one  of  the  tcha- 
wooshes  of  the  capitan-pasha,  who,  like  myself,  was  only 
a  passenger.  Aly  was  his  name,  and  Crete  his  countr)'. 
This  latter  circumstance  added  much,  in  my  eyes,  to  the 
merit  of  his  society.  The  Turks  of  Candia,  by  their  con- 
stant intermarriages  with  Greek  women,  to  whom  they 
permit  every  latitude  of  worship,  become  divested  of  much 


160  ANASTASIUS. 

of  tlieir  Mohammedan  asperity,  and  Aly,  himself  half  a 
Greek,  was  not  entitled  to  any  great  prejudice  against 
me  for  being  only  half  a  Turk.  In  the  refinements  of  his 
toilet,  liowever,  Aly-tchawoosh  might  be  considered  as 
a  finislied  Osmanlee.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  exqui- 
site taste  of  his  apparel.  His  turban  attracted  the  eye 
less  even  by  its  costliness  of  texture  than  by  its  elegance 
of  form.  A  band  of  green  and  gold  tissue,  diagonally 
crossing  tlie  foreliead,  was  made  with  studious  ease,  by 
its  oblique  position,  completely  to  overshadow  one  ear, 
and  as  completely  to  display  the  other.  From  its  fringed 
extremity  always  hung  suspended  like  a  tassel,  a  rose  or 
a  carnation,  M'hich,  wliile  it  kept  caressing  the  wearer's 
broad  and  muscular  tliroat,  sent  up  its  fragrance  to  his 
disdainful  nostril.  An  hour  every  day  was  the  shortest 
lime  allotted  to  the  culture  of  his  adored  mustachios,  and 
to  the  various  rites  which  these  idols  of  his  vainglorious 
heart  demanded ;  such  as  changing  their  hue  from  a 
bright  flaxen  to  a  jetty  black,  perfuming  them  with  rose 
and  amber,  smoothing  their  straggling  hairs,  and  giving 
their  taper  ends  a  smart  and  graceful  curve.  Another  hour 
was  spent  in  refreshing  the  scarlet  die  of  his  lips,  and 
tinting  the  dark  shade  of  his  eyelids,  as  well  as  in  prac- 
tising the  most  fascinating  smile  and  the  archest  leer 
which  tlie  Terzhana*  could  display.  His  dress,  of  the 
finest  broadcloth  and  velvet,  made  after  the  most  dashing 
Barbarj'  cut,  was  covered  all  over  with  gold  embroidery, 
so  tiiickly  emljossed  as  to  appear  almost  massive.  His 
chest,  uncovered  down  to  the  girdle,  and  his  arms,  bared 
up  to  the  shoulder,  displayed  all  the  bright  polish  of  his 
skin.  His  capote  was  draped  so  as  with  infinite  grace  to 
break  the  too  formal  symmetry  of  his  costume.  In  short, 
liis  handjar  with  its  gilt  handle,  liis  Avatch  with  its  con- 
cealed miniature,  his  tobac;co-poucii  of  knitted  gold,  his 
pipe  mounted  in  oparjue  amber,  and  his  pistols  with  dia- 
mond-(;iit  hilt,  were  all  in  the  style  of  the  most  consum- 
mate petit  laaitrc;  and  if,  s{)ite  of  all  his  pains,  my  friend 
Aly  was  not  without  exception  the  handsomest  man  in 
the  Othoinan  empire,  none  could  deny  his  being  one  of 
llie  best  dressed.  His  air  and  manner  harmonized  with 
his  at  lire.  A  confident  look,  an  insolent  and  sneering 
tone,  and  an  indolent  yet  swaggering  gait,  bespoke  him 
to  be,  what  indeed  it  was  his  utmost  ambition  to  appear, 

»  Tcrihana— thu  admiralty. 


ANASTASIUS.  161 

a  thorough  rake.  Noisy,  drunken,  quarrelsome,  and  ex- 
pert alike  in  the  exercise  of  the  bow  (the  weapon  of  his 
country)  and  in  that  of  the  handjar,  he  possessed  every 
one  of  the  accomplishments  of  those  heroes  chiefly  met 
with  on  the  quays  of  Constantinople  and  the  other 
jjrincipal  seaports  in  the  Othoman  empire,  whom  a  mod- 
est woman  avoids,  and  to  whom  a  respectable  man 
always  gives  way. 

Intimacies  are  soon  contracted  at  sea;  and  Aly  was 
too  vain  to  keep  up  much  reserve.  He  soon  favoured  me 
Avith  an  account  of  some  of  his  adventures !  "  My  dear 
fellow,"  said  he,  one  day,  "  I  would  have  you  know  that 
from  my  earliest  infancy  I  always  had  the  most  decided 
taste  for  idleness ;  and  this  ruling  passion  of  my  heart 
has  never  ceased  increasing.  The  only  agreeable  occu- 
pation I  could  ever  devise  was  doing  nothing.  "Whatever 
lures  were  held  out  to  me  by  fortune,  they  lost  all  their 
charms  to  my  eye  the  moment  their  pursuit  required  the 
least  exertion.  Not  for  an  empire  would  I  give  up  my 
dear  laziness.  At  the  same  time,  next  to  doing  nothing, 
my  chief  delight  always  consisted  in  spending  a  great 
deal  of  money.  Unfortunately,  I  was  not  one  of  the  privi- 
leged few  who  can  afford  to  indulge  both  these  tastes  at 
once.  My  luck,  however,  made  me  succeed  in  some 
little  commissions  for  the  governor  of  the  Canea,  which 
gained  me  his  good-will ;  and  his  good- will,  in  its  turn, 
gained  me  an  employment  in  which  I  was  enabled  to 
enjoy  my  two  chief  conditions  of  earthly  happiness,  if 
not  together,  at  least  alternately.  It  was  that  of  tcha- 
woosh  or  messenger  of  the  capitan-pasha.  You  know 
the  jolly  lives  these  gentry  lead ;  you  also  know  the 
scanty  wages  they  receive  :  and  you  moreover  know  the 
splendid  figure  they  are  expected  to  make.  I  have 
always  suspected  our  grandees,  so  profuse  in  their  pres- 
ents to  other  people's  servants,  and  so  niggardly  in  their 
salaries  to  their  own  followers,  of  having  made  a  secret 
agreement  with  each  other,  by  which  each  was  to  sup- 
port his  neighbour's  retinue  instead  of  his  own.  It  is  but 
justice  to  us  to  say,  that  we  do  all  in  our  power  to  give 
effect  to  this  contract ;  for  you  cannot  but  remember  how, 
at  the  Terzhana,  we  lie  in  wait  for  every  hapless  stranger, 
whose  evil  stars  inflict  upon  him  business  with  our  pasha ; 
what  fees  we  exact  for  every  audience  he  craves,  and  for 
every  favour  he  receives.  The  utmost  produce,  how- 
ever, of  the  fines  levied  in  the  capital,  would  but  indiffer- 


162  ANASTASIUS. 

ently  defray  the  expenses  of  our  apparel,  board,  &c», 
were  it  not  for  the  chance  of  being  each  in  our  turn  in- 
trusted with  some  lucrative  commission  in  the  provinces. 

"  For  my  part,  I  never,  till  I  saw  my  wishes  fulfilled, 
ceased  praying  Allah,  both  morning  and  evening,  that 
he  might  be  pleased  to  whisper  in  the  pasha's  ear  a  word 
in  my  favour,  and  make  him  employ  his  servant  Aly 
as  his  representative  in  some  lucrative  negotiation. 
The  occasion  on  which  my  prayers  were  granted  was 
this  :  Certain  Speciote*  adventurers  had  waylaid  a  Greek 
vessel  bound  for  Ancona,  and  not  yet  knowing — poor  souls 
— the  difference  'twixt  good  and  evil,  had  in  the  inno- 
cence of  their  hearts  sold  both  cargo  and  ship  in  their 
own  native  place,  among  their  own  fellow-citizens,  all 
more  or  less  engaged  in  the  same  primitive  sort  of  pro- 
fession with  themselves.  On  an  application  from  the 
owners  of  the  vessel,  I  was  sent  to  Specia  to  recover  the 
property,  and  to  bring  to  justice  the  culprits.  We  gen- 
tlemen of  the  short  dress  carry  little  ballast,  and  when 
Vv'C  haVe  a  prize  in  view,  know  the  value  of  time.  I  no 
sooner  had  received  my  instructions  than  I  hoisted  my 
pennant  and  set  sail.  Not  that  my  journey  was  quite 
as  expeditious  as  my  departure  was  prompt.  Ships  at 
sea  sail  not  always  as  the  crow  flies.  Besides,  one  has 
often  to  seek  a  conveyance  as  chance  may  offer  it.  In 
addition  to  which,  I  thought  it  would  be  showing  a  proper 
respect  for  the  grand  admiral  my  patron,  to  represent  his 
person  in  some  of  the  smaller  islands  on  my  way.  This 
cost  liirn  notliing,  nor  me  either.  Every  where  I  found 
board  and  lodging  gratis.  I  was  made  welcome  to  all 
the  necessaries  of  life — among  the  foremost  of  which 
I  reckon  its  supertluities ;  and  at  my  departure,  never 
failed  to  receive  a  small  present  for  the  honour  conferred 
on  the  place,  for  which  1  always  took  care,  in  return,  to 
promise  my  protection. 

"  Uy  my  d(;liberate  mode  of  proceeding,  I  gave  the 
fame  of  my  approach  time  to  precede  me  to  Specia:  for 
I  did  not  wish  to  take  any  unfair  advantage  of  its  inhab- 
itants by  coming  in  upon  them  unawares,  and  before 
they  had  liad  sulFicient  leisure  to  prepare  for  my  recep- 
tion. 'I'he  island  is  so  small,  and  its  population  so 
scanty,  that,  but  for  some  little  management  of  this  sort, 
I   could    not  have   avoided  stumbling    upon   the   poor 

*  Speciote— from  the  island  of  Specia, 


ANASTASIUS.  163 

wretches  whom  I  was  seat  in  quest  of,  at  the  very  first 
step  ;  and  this,  considering  how  essential  it  was  to  them 
to  avoid  my  sight,  would  have  been  most  unliandsome. 
Surh  was  the  confidence  I  inspired  by  the  humanity  of 
this  proceeding,  that  the  pUmderers  of  the  merchantman 
did  not  even  seek  concealment  on  the  news  of  my  actual 
arrival,  but  treated  me  with  an  openness  of  behaviour 
quite  equal  to  my  own.  To  have  taken  advantage  of 
sucli  frankness  of  conduct,  I  must  have  been  callous  to 
all  liberal  feelings.  As  the  rogues  assured  me  therefore 
upon  their  honour  that  they  had  already  ate  and  drank 
three-fourths  of  the  produce  of  their  prize,  I  only  exacted 
restitution  of  the  fourth  which  remained.  Not  wishing, 
however,  to  mortify  my  employers  by  restoring  to  them 
so  small  a  portion  of  their  property,  I  put  it  into  my 
own  pocket.  My  conciliatory  spirit  gained  me  universal 
esteem ;  and  the  inhabitants — all  more  or  less  liable  to 
the  same  errors — sliowered  upon  me  from  all  quarters 
presents  of  all  descriptions :  sheep,  kids,  fowls,  and 
other  live,  as  well  as  dead  stock.  Just  as  I  was  consider- 
ing to  what  market  I  should  cany  my  perquisites,  this 
vessel  hove  in  sight.  I  thought  the  opportunity  a  good 
one  for  disposing  of  my  provision  and  my  person ;  and 
thence  it  happens  that  you  find  me  going  onward  to 
Rhodes,  instead  of  returning  back  to  Constantinople." 

"  And  do  you  not  fear,"  said  I,  "  that  the  grand  admiral 
may  some  day  discover  your  exploits  V  "  No,"  replied 
the  Candiote.  "  He  lays  his  account  with  them  before- 
hand. He  knows  he  cannot  furnish  his  hall  with  forty 
or  fifty  strapping  fellows,  stiff  with  gold  lace,  and  ready 
to  break  their  necks  at  liis  nod,  for  nothing  but  a  mise- 
rable dish  of  pilaff;  and  like  a  man  of  sense,  he  suffers 
his  Greek  subjects  to  maintain  his  retinue." 

A  young  sailor  boy  of  the  district  of  Spachia* — whose 
inhabitants  consider  themselves  as  the  only  descendants 
of  the  ancient  Cretans,  and  are  shepherds  in  their  moun- 
tains half  the  year,  and  pirates  at  sea  the  other  half — 
stood  by  listening  to  Aly's  narrative.  "  You  Spachiote 
scoundrels,"  added  the  tchawoosh,  turning  sharply  upon 
liim,  "  may  thank  your  stars  that  your  sultana  is  fond  of 
your  cream  cheeses.  From  many  a  well-deserved  ava- 
niah  does  her  favour  save  you,  and  your  blessed  mal- 

*  Spachia — district  on  the  coast  of  Crete,  forming  the  dower  of  one  of  1^9 
sultanas,  and  whose  inhabitants  combine  the  pastoral  and  piratical  life. 


164  ANASTASIUS. 

kiane.*  The  last  gentle  correction  you  had,  I  think,  was 
in  the  Russian  war,  when  the  expedition  from  the  Canea 
left  not  a  soul  alive  in  any  of  your  villages."  "  Found 
none  to  kill,  you  mean,"  answered  the  boy.  "  Our 
men  were  on  board  the  Russian  vessels,  and  our  women 
and  children  in  the  mountains  with  their  flocks.  This 
you  knew,  or  you  durst  not  have  come." 

Aly  began  to  knit  his  brow.  Wishing  to  prevent  a 
quarrel ;  "  who,"  said  I,  laughing,  "  ever  wants  a  broken 
head,  that  can  get  plunder  without  a  scratch  of  his  little 
finger  1  For  my  part  I  always  prefer  marauding  when 
the  owner  is  from  home,  were  it  only  to  save  the  things 
from  being  knocked  about." 

In  this  sort  of  conversation  passed  away  our  time, 
until  we  came  in  sight  of  the  island  of  Scyra.  "  What 
have  we  here  ?"  cried  I.  "  A  town  like  a  sugar-loaf, 
built  on  the  model  of  a  derwish's  cap  ;  with  the  church 
at  the  top,  by  way  of  a  tuft !  It  must  be  strange  enough 
to  step  from  one's  garret  into  the  cellar  of  one's  neighbour ! 
'rhough  I  should  be  afraid  that  a  walk,  begun  on  two 
legs  here,  might  end  on  all-fours." 

"  This  happens  the  oftencr,"  observed  Aly,  "  as  the 
inhabitants  are  by  disposition  stately,  and  fond  of  strut- 
ting about  in  long  robes,  in  which  tlie  unevenness  of  their 
gro^und  often  makes  them  get  entangled.  Surely  you 
must  know  that  Scyra  is  the  great  nursery  of  men  and 
maid-servants  of  Pera.  Two  sacolevas,  loaded  only 
with  this  article,  go  to  the  capital  regularly  every  year; 
and  no  Scyrote  returns  home  till  he  can  live  on  his  island 
in  comfort.  This  comfort  consists  in  milking  their  goats 
and  grinding  their  barley  in  all  the  cast-off  finery  of  their 
former  masters  and  mistresses,  with  feathered  heads  and 
furred  tails.  When  they  meet,  they  treat  each  other 
witli  the  forms  and  ceremonious  language  of  people  of 
quality.  The  first  time  I  visited  the  island  I  witnessed 
a  sahjtation  in  the  street  between  two  ladies  whom  I  took 
for  princesses.  It  begun  very  well,  but  it  ended  with 
one  being  rolled  in  the  mire  by  a  jackass,  and  the  other 
ridinp  away  upon  a  pig,  which  had  got  entangled  among 
the  foMs  of  her  trailing  drapery." 

The  captain  of  our  khirlangitsch  had  to  receive  the 
contribution  of  the  little  islet  of  Serpo.  On  going  ashore 
for  that  purpose,  he  proceeded  straight  to  the  hospice  of 

*  Malkian^— flef  of  the  nature  of  an  appanage. 


ANASTASIUS.  165 

an  old  capuchin.  A  sort  of  attraction  subsisted  between 
these  two  graybeards.  From  the  heaviness  of  their  in- 
tellects, I  suppose  it  was  only  that  of  gravitation ;  for  it 
ended  in  mere  juxtaposition,  and  scarce  ever  was  a  word 
or  idea  interchanged.  Still  did  its  constancy  give  their 
mutual  regard  quite  a  romantic  air.  Nowhere  but  in  the 
friar's  dingy  cell  would  the  bey  receive  in  state  the  salu- 
tation and  the  tribute-money  of  the  Greek  primates, 
whose  troop  presently  made  its  appearance.  All  its 
members  had  their  hands  crossed  on  their  stomachs,  and 
their  features  composed  into  as  demure  a  form  as  pos- 
sible. The  whole  Greek  commimity  of  the  island,  men, 
women,  and  children,  formed  the  long  train  of  the  pro- 
cession. 

No  sooner  was  it  arrived  within  hearing  of  the  captain, 
than  the  Corypheeus  of  the  party  stopped,  short,  hemmed, 
coughed,  and  commenced  his  harangue.  With  singular 
aptitude  of  simile  he  compared  the  whiskered  bey  to  an 
angel  of  light,  and  with  equal  consistency  he  besought 
him  not  to  diffuse  darkness  over  the  land,  by  exacting  a 
contribution  which  its  inhabitants  could  not  pay.  The 
pleas  for  exemption  consisted  in  a  catalogue  of  calami- 
ties, of  which  pirates,  floods,  short  crops,  earthquakes, 
and  conflagrations  were  the  least ! 
■•  "  All  that,  gentlemen,"  answered  the  bey  in  his  Barba- 
resque idiom,  fetching  a  sentimental  sigh,  "  no  doubt  very 
true  and  very  miserable ;  but,  simset,  you  no  put  tribute 
here," — and  he  pointed  to  his  pouch — "  me  put  bastinado 
there,"  added  he,  pointing  to  their  backs. 

At  these  appalling  words  the  whole  troop,  epitrope  and 
commoners,  joined  in  a  full  chorus  of  lamentations. 
When  they  could  squeeze  out  no  more  tears,  they  beat 
their  breasts,  and  uttered  the  most  piteous  groans.  See- 
ing all  this  of  no  avail,  and  the  bey  as  obdurate  as  ever, 
they  at  last  retired,  hangingtheir  heads,  and  like  men  led 
out  for  execution. 

The  sun  still  was  above  the  horizon  when  the  troop 
returned,  with  faces  as  dolorous  as  before.  They  only 
brought  half  the  sum  required,  affirming,  with  greater 
oaths  than  ever,  that  if  they  were  to  be  pounded  in  a 
mortar,  they  could  not  produce  another  farthing. 

"  Me  believe  that,"  said  the  bey,  "  and  me  therefore 
sorry  me  obliged  to  perform  my  promise.  Me  however 
begin  with  Signor  Epitrope,  in  due  respect  for  his  rarik. 
Him  me  not  dare  give  less  than  fifty  strokes.     Up  with 


166  ANASTASIUS. 

his  lordship's  heels !"  added  he,  turning  to  one  of  hia 
attendants,  "  and  begin." 

All  now  cried  out  for  mercy,  and  swore,  that  if  but 
allowed  five  minutes  more,  they  would  try  to  bring  the 
complement,  were  they  to  wrest  it  from  the  bowels  of  the 
earth. 

The  bey  assented,  and  the  troop  again  retired ;  but  it 
was  only  to  make  a  full  stop  at  the  first  turn  of  tlie  road, 
and  there  to  lug  out  from  under  their  cloaks  the  entire 
sum  demanded,  neatly  tied  up  in  bags.  With  this  re- 
serve they  returned,  and  delivered  it.  The  bey  made 
the  proper  apologies  to  the  epitrope,  and  the  party  was 
dismissed. 

They  now  in  a  close  phalanx  walked  slowly  home, 
with  the  most  dejected  and  miserable  look  ;  but  they  had 
not  gone  a  hundred  yards  when  they  met  some  friends 
returning  from  a  wedding,  preceded  by  music.  Both 
parties  stopped,  a  parley  ensued,  and  presently  the  whole 
of  the  procession,  the  epitrope  the  foremost,  spread  out 
their  arms,  and  began  dancing  the  romeika !  Attracted 
by  the  sound  of  the  instruments,  the  bey  went  to  the 
window,  and  beholding  the  merry  scene,  "  Mirar  papas," 
said  he  to  the  friar  in  lingua  franca;  "mi  parler  bono, 
canaglia  senza  fede  piandgir;  ma  mi  bastonar,  mi  far 
pagar,  subito  ballar  et  cantar." 

Not  quite  so  gay  were  my  friend  Aly's  accompani- 
ments, when  our  ship  lay  rocking  on  the  waves  to  the 
music  of  the  roaring  winds.  On  those  occasions  there 
was  any  thing  but  grace  in  his  movements  or  melody  in 
his  utterance.  He  had  not  even  a  pretension  to  heroism 
at  sea.  The  slightest  ruffling  of  its  surface  made  him 
as  quiet  as  a  lamb.  To  his  noisy,  insolent  tone  imme- 
diately succeeded  the  most  piteous  and  subdued  look  and 
manner.  Aware  himself  how  altered  a  man  he  became 
in  rough  weather,  he  used,  at  the  first  breeze,  to  slink 
away  like  the  moulting  peacock,  and  conceal  himself  in 
some  hole  or  corner,  where  he  lay  speechless  while  the 
motion  histed.  Not  until  the  sea  resumed  its  tranquil- 
lity did  Aly  reappear  on  the  deck.  How  glad  he  was  to 
see  Rhodes  need  not  be  told.  He  almost  plumped  into 
the  waves  in  his  impatience  to  step  into  the  boat.  But 
even  asliore,  he  still  awhile  wore  a  languid  look,  which 
made  all  the  acquaintance  he  met  ask  him  ironically, 
"  with  what  fair  one  of  the  islands  he  had  left  in  pledge 
his  spirits  1" 


ANASTASIXJS.  167 

I  ranked  among  those  vulgar  beings  who  take  a  greater 
interest  in  the  living  occurrences  of  the  passing  day,  than 
in  the  dead  letter  of  remote  ages.  As  a  Greek,  I  ever 
found  but  little  motive  for  exultation  in  any  research 
which  led  me  to  compare  the  present  with  the  past. 
Still,  I  had  learned — where  I  cannot  tell — that  Rhodes 
belonged  not  to  the  Turks  from  the  days  of  the  deluge: 
that  it  had  once  obeyed  a  Christian  order  of  knighthood, 
of  noble  blood,  high  spirit,  enthusiastic  devotion,  and 
undaunted  bravery :  that  a  handful  of  these  valiant  war- 
riors had  defended  it  an  entire  twelvemonth  against  the 
whole  force  of  the  Othoman  empire ;  and  that  the  .Mussul- 
mans at  last  only  found  an  entrance  to  the  citadel  over 
the  bodies  of  its  brave  defenders,  fallen  to  the  last  man, 
in  the  long-contested  breach. 

The  outside  of  the  ancient  fortress — once  the  chief 
theatre  of  these  brilliant  and  bloody  achievements — might 
be  seen  from  every  part  of  the  quay,  towering  high  above 
the  modem  city.  Its  wide  ramparts,  its  lofty  bulwarks, 
its  crested  batteries  of  a  black  rugged  stone,  deprived  as 
they  now  were  of  the  mighty  cannon,  formerly  darting 
all  round  its  deadly  fire,  looked  like  the  silenced  crater 
of  an  extinct  volcano,  still  frowning  on  the  fertile  plain 
below,  though  its  devastating  power  was  no  longer 
feared. 

"  Let  us  go,"  said  I  to  Aly,  "  and  examine  this  object 
of  so  much  strife,  which  Osmanlees  knew  how  to  wrest 
from  the  hands  of  the  infidels,  but  know  not  how  to  pre- 
serve from  the  injuries  of  time."  "  Let  us  go,"  echoed 
Aly,  who  expected  some  opportunity  to  play  the  tcha- 
woosh :  and  accordingly  we  went. 

Though  now  thrown  open  to  all,  the  formidable  enclo- 
sure still  seems  guarded  by  an  invisible  power.  Few 
ever  enter  its  precincts ;  and  on  passing  its  massy  gates 
I  felt  struck  with  inexpressible  awe. 

Monuments  that  already  have  been  so  long  in  a  state 
of  progressive  decay,  as  less  to  retain  the  distinct  and 
solemn  forms  of  art,  than  they  resume  the  ruder  sem- 
blance of  nature ;  as  to  offer  less  of  a  former  mode  of 
existence  gone  by,  than  of  a  new  one  commencing ;  less 
of  lapse  into  death,  than  of  return  to  a  different  shape  of 
life ;  less  of  dissolution,  than  of  regeneration :  as  again 
on  all  sides  to  let  in  through  their  prostrate  walls  the 
broad  glare  of  day;  again  ever\'  where  to  show  their 
mouldering  joints  clothed  in  fresh  vegetation,  and  again 


168  ANASTASITJS 

at  every  step  to  display  their  mazy  precincts  tenanted  by 
the  buzzing  insect  and  the  blithe  chirping  bird: — such 
monuments  have  their  gloom  irradiated  by  at  least  an 
equal  portion  of  gayety;  and  resemble  the  human  frame 
so  entirely  returned  to  its  original  dust,  as  to  preserve  no 
trace  of  its  former  lineaments,  and  only  to  break  forth 
afresh  from  its  kindred  clay,  in  the  shape  of  plants  and 
flowers  more  luxuriant  and  more  gaudy. 

But  edifices  whose  abandonment  by  man  has  been  so 
recent  that  they  still  bear  about  them  all  the  marks  of 
death  and  mourning,  still  preserve  undiminished  their 
funeral  darkness,  still  remain  the  uninvaded  property 
of  solitude  and  silence ;  that  their  outlines  scarce  are 
indented  by  the  sharp  tooth  of  time,  or  their  surface 
varied  by  the  softer  weather  stain ;  that  their  precincts 
offer  not  yet  the  smallest  transition  from  entire  unmixed 
death  and  dereliction  to  a  new  modification  of  life,  and  a 
new  order  of  inhabitants ;  that  they  say  in  distinct  terms 
to  the  beholder,  "  It  was  but  yesterday  we  still  resounded 
with  the  voices  and  song  of  numberless  gay,  busy 
tenants :" — such  edifices  preserve  their  sadness  unaltered: 
they  chill  the  sense,  oppress  the  heart,  and  make  the 
blood  run  cold ;  for  they  resemble  the  human  body  just 
abandoned  by  the  vivifying  soul;  just  stiffened  into  an 
insensible  and  ghastly  corpse;  just  displaying  the  first 
awful  signs  of  fast  approaching  corruption. 

And  of  such  mansions  was  composed  the  scene  before 
me.  The  broad  square,  the  stately  palace,  the  solemn 
chapel,  once  re-echoing  with  the  clang  of  arms,  the  bustle 
of  trade,  the  boastings  of  youth,  and  the  peal  of  devotion, 
looked  as  if  the  blood  scarce  was  clotted  which  had  stained 
their  massy  walls,  and  the  sounds  still  must  vibrate  in 
air  which  had  circulated  through  tlieir  lofty  passages ; 
as  if  one  still  might  discern  at  u  distance  the  dying  voices 
of  their  departing  tenants  ;  though  nothing  was  distinctly 
heard  close  to  the  ear  but  the  plaintive  murmur  of  the 
pensive  turtle-dove  nestling  in  the  jagged  battlements,  or 
the  measured  bounds  of  some  stone  slowly  detached  by 
the  hand  of  time  from  the  fretted  roof,  and  dropping  with 
hollow  din,  from  floor  to  floor,  into  the  dark  vault  below. 

Contemplating  the  great  names,  the  sadly  eventful 
dates,  and  the  proud  armorial  bearings  still  shining  in 
marble  of  resplendent  whiteness  on  the  broad  expanse 
of  the  black  honey-combed  walls,  like  the  few  memorable 
persons  and  periods  that  still  cont  inue  to  soar  in  light  among 


ANASTASIUS.  169 

the  general  obscurity  of  times  long  past :  thinking  on  the 
noble  ancestry,  the  high  blood,  the  martial  character,  and 
the  monastic  life  of  the  illustrious  youth — the  flower  of 
Europe — whose  habitations,  whose  history,  and  whose 
habits  these  monuments  so  clearly  marked,  I  experienced 
a  new  and  hitherto  unfelt  emotion.  I  envied  the  heroes 
who,  after  a  life  of  religion,  of  warfare,  and  of  glor}^ 
slaughtered  in  the  very  breach  they  defended,  now  slept 
in  peace  and  renown,  leaving  after  them  names  ever 
young  and  ever  flourishing  in  the  hearts  of  grateful 
Europe.  I  wished  that  I  too  had  been  among  these  noble 
few,  that  I  too  had  sprinkled  these  edifices  with  my 
heart's  fullest  tide,  tliat  I  too  had  fallen  in  these  ramparts, 
and  had  filled  these  yawning  chasms  with  my  body.  In 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  moment  I  wished  that  I  too  might 
now  be  nothing  more  than  a  spirit ;  but  a  spirit  entitled 
to  haunt  this  august  spot  as  the  scene  of  my  past  achieve- 
ments, and  to  say  to  other  inferior  and  wondering  ghosts, 
"Here  I  lived,  here  I  died,  here  I  immortalized  my 
name !" 

Disposed,  by  the  comparisons  which  these  ideas  sug- 
gested, to  repine  at  my  own  country,  condition,  and 
parentage,  I  sat  down  on  a  pillar's  prostrate  trunk,  and 
there  lamented  the  hard  lot  of  man,  who,  so  far  from 
being  able  to  adapt  his  circumstances  to  his  faculties,  is 
often,  with  a  spirit  equal  to  the  highest  station,  left  to 
linger  in  the  lowest.  In  my  despondency,  my  eye  caught 
a  piece  of  broken  marble,  gorgeously  emblazoned  with 
chivalresque  insignia.  But  if  the  side  which  lay  upper- 
most displayed  the  plumed  crest  of  a  Gothic  knight,  the 
reverse  still  bore  the  remains  of  a  Hellenic  inscription. 
It  was  a  work  and  a  record  of  the  ancient  Greeks,  and 
had,  no  doubt,  been  brought  from  the  opposite  shore,  where 
the  ruins  of  Cnidus  furnished  tlie  knights  of  Rhodes  with 
an  ample  quarry  for  the  monuments  of  their  feudal  vanity. 
At  this  sight  my  own  national  pride  returned  in  all  it.s 
force.  "  And  does  it  then  belong  to  me,"  cried  I,  trying 
by  a  sudden  start  to  rouse  the  dormant  energies  of  my 
mind — "to  envy  the  borrowed  greatness  of  Goths  and 
Barbarians,  only  able  in  their  fullest  pomp  to  adorn  them- 
selves with  the  cast-off"  feathers  of  my  own  ancestors* 
Am  I  not  a  Greek  ]  And  what  Grecian  blood,  even  where 
remotest  from  the  source  it  runs  in  the  smallest  rills,  ie 
not  nobler  than  the  base  stream  that  flows  through  the 
veins  of  these  childi'cn  of  the  West,  whose  proudest  boa^t 

Voi.  I.—H 


170  A\ASTASIUS. 

is  to  trace  tlieir  names  to  the  obscurity  of  ignorance  and 
the  night  of  barbarism,  whose  oldest  houses  only  date  as 
of  yesterday,  and  whose  highest  acliievements  are  the 
exploits  of  s;ivages !" 

My  friend  Aly  was  not  a  person  to  sympathize  with 
my  feelings  on  this  occasion.  From  his  very  first  entrance 
into  this  abode  of  darkness  and  desolation,  his  mind  had 
misgiven  him.  Turning  as  pale  as  if  again  at  sea  and  in 
a  storm,  he  cried  out,  "  What  can  you  be  going  to  do 
among  these  ugly  ruins  1  The  place  is  too  dreary  even 
for  an  appointment  with  a  goule."*  All  the  time  during 
which  I  stood  considering  the  various  objects  that  suc- 
cessively attracted  my  attention,  he  had  continued  most 
impatient  to  return ;  and  when,  after  this,  he  saw  me  sit 
down  composedly  on  the  old  broken  pillar,  there  to  follow 
up  at  leisure  the  train  of  my  reflections,  he  fell  into  com- 
plete despair.  '•  What  can  this  confounded  son  of  a 
Greek  be  muttering  to  himself,  as  if  possessed,"  I  over- 
heard him  say,  "  and  that  in  a  place  where  people  should 
keep  calling  to  eacli  other  with  all  their  might,  in  order 
to  frighten  away  evil  spirits  I"  and  after  various  surmises, 
it  seemed  he  at  last  settled  it  in  his  mind  that  I  was 
i)rewing  some  incantation,  and  going  to  treat  him  to  a 
dance  of  spectres.  At  this  idea  his  teeth  began  to 
chatter ;  he  looked  round  for  a  way  by  which  he  might 
escape;  but  after  several  trials,  all  equally  abortive,  he 
at  last  convinced  himself  as  well  as  me  that  he  had  not 
the  courage  to  retrace  his  steps  alone. 

The  only  thing  left  fur  him  to  do,  therefore,  was  to 
exert  his  utmost  arts  of  persuasion,  and  prevail  upon  me  ' 
to  bear  him  company.  Ere  his  fear  had  risen  to  its 
highest  pitch,  he  had  ventured  for  a  moment  to  quit  my 
side.  He  now  became  so  pressing  to  show  me  what  he 
};ad  seen  on  that  occasion,  and  was  pleased  to  call  the 
prettiest  prospect  imaginable,  that  at  last  I  consented  to 
follow  him,  merely  to  get  rid  of  his  importunities;  but 
I'lilly  expecting  to  he  shown  some  dunghill,  or  burying- 
rrround,  or  other  object  equally  extraordinary  and  agiec- 
aide.  My  surprise,  therefore,  was  great,  when,  from  a 
projecting  bastion,  I  really  beheld  a  most  delightful  view 
of  the  city's  "•  y  and  busy  suburbs,  stretching  with  thpii 
gardens  full  of  orange  and  date-trees,  along  the  winding 
beach. 

*  A  goule— ghost  of  a  deceased  person,  sucli  as  the  Moliamniedans  fancy  lo 
iiaunt  burying-plares,  and  there  to  hold  converse  with  witches  and  sorcerers. 


AXASTASIUS.  171 

"There  now,"  cried  Aly,  in  a  coaxing  lone,  on  per- 
ceiving the  bait  to  take,  "  who  in  his  senses  would  stay 
another  moment  among  these  frightful  black  shells  oj" 
houses — in  wliich  all  the  company  I  couM  find  consisted 
of  as  sociable  a  parly  of  vipers  and  of  scorpions  as  one 
would  wish  to  join — that  had  the  faculty  to  go  and 
■.iivcstigate  all  the  iiniumerable  species  of  delight  ccn- 
lained  in  that  knot  of  little  snow-white  dwellings  down 
below  ?"  and  hereupon  he  began  to  enumerate  on  his 
fingers  such  a  wundrous  list  of  all  the  good  things  of 
this  world,  which  might  probably  be  found  in  those 
habitations  which  he  longed  to  investigate,  that  my  own 
mouth,  by  degrees,  watered  at  the  catalogue ;  and  to 
Aly's  inexpressible  satisfaction,  I  at  last  took  him  under 
my  arm,  and  left  the  castle  to  explore  the  beach. 

My  curiosity  was  soon  satisfied,  but  my  newly  acquired 
taste  for  travelling  only  received  fresh  excitement, 
f'rom  our  conversation  by  the  way,  Aly  had  given  me  a 
longing  desire  to  visit  Kgj-pt,  to  which  country  I  had  now 
performed  more  tiian  half  the  distance  from  Constantino- 
ple; and  the  commander  of  the  khirlangitsch  had  raised 
that  desire  to  the  iiighest  pitch,  by  his  description  of  the 
advancement  which  I  might  hope  for  in  the  land  of  the 
niamlukes.  "  Egypt,"  he  observed,  "  always  was  the  cra- 
dle of  revolutions  and  the  patrimony  of  strangers;  always 
welcomed  the  wanderers  who  had  no  predilection  for  any 
particular  soil,  or  attachment  to  any  particular  home. 
At  present  more  than  ever,"  he  added,  "  it  holds  out  irre- 
sistible attractions  to  the  bold  adventurer,  who  seeks  his 
fortune  in  strife  and  confusion.  To  external  appearances, 
indeed,  the  country  slumbers  in  the  profoundest  peace. 
No  one  would  guess,  on  a  superficial  glance,  that  the  least 
convulsion  threatened  to  disturb  its  tranquillity.  The 
utmost  whicli  the  two  parties  who  divide  the  supreme  swaj* 
thus  far  permit  themselves  is,  each  with  a  jealous  eye  to 
measure  the  strength  and  to  watch  the  proceedings  of 
the  other.  But  this  apparent  serenity  is  only  the  calm 
which  precedes  the  storm.  The  various  elements,  all  pre- 
paring soon  to  fall  asunder,  and  to  assume  new  combina- 
tions, are  all  ready,  at  a  moment's  warning,  to  burst  out  into 
open  defiance  and  hostility ;  uncertain  vhen  the  trump  of 
■war  may  sound  as  a  signal  for  battle.  Meanwhile  each  par- 
ty most  eagerly  seeks  to  increase  the  num'^  of  its  adhe- 
rents by  everj'  new  man  of  tried  courage  disposed  to  em- 
brace its  cause.  Under  these  circumscances,  a  vouth  who, 
H  2 


1'}'2  ANASTASIUS. 

like  you — Greek  by  birth,  and  Mohammedan  from  choice 
— is  already  beforehand  half  a  mamluke  ;  and,  handsome, 
vigorous,  and  warlike,  still  adds  to  his  skill  in  martial 
exercises  the  more  uncommon  quahlications  of  expertness 
in  languages  and  readiness  at  his  pen — wields  the  hollow 
reed  as  ably  as  the  heavy  spear,  and  can  execute  a  deli- 
cate commission  as  dexterously  as  a  dangerous  enter- 
prise, is  a  treasure  for  which  all  must  conteu'i.  He 
need  only  show  himself  on  the  spot  to  ensure  opposite 
factions  vying  which  shall,  by  the  most  brilliant  offer,  en- 
list him  in  their  ranks." 

At  this  tempting  picture  I  sighed.  The  bey  guessed 
my  thoughts.  "  I  see,"  said  he,  "  what  you  want,  and  I 
can  supply  it.  Suleiman,  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
among  the  present  rulers  of  Egypt,  is  my  particular  friend. 
The  number  of  his  mamlukes  has  been  extremely  reduced 
by  the  late  destructive  plague.  He  seeks  eveiy  means  to 
recruit  his  house.  For  this  purpose  his  kehaya  at  Con- 
stantinople, knowing  the  number  of  ports  and  islands  I 
should  have  to  visit,  gave  me  an  express  commission  to 
engage  for  his  patron  whatever  person  I  might  find  likely  to 
answer  his  views.  I  have  watched  you  during  the  voy- 
age. You  are  resolute,  sensible,  and  not  likely  to  stick 
at  trifles ;  and,  if  you  like  the  scheme,  I  shall  give  you  the 
recommendations  to  my  old  friend  which  these  qualities 
deserve." 

I  bowed,  expressed  my  delight  at  the  commander's  good 
opinion,  and  accepted  his  offer.  Elate  at  the  idea  of  not 
only  soon  seeing  fruitful  Egypt,  but,  perhaps,  m5"sell' 
making  a  figure  in  its  annals,  and  alternately  rioting  in 
luxury  and  in  warfare,  while  I  lent  my  services  in  proud 
condescension  to  its  rulers,  I  immediately  sought  a  ves- 
sel in  which  to  take  my  passage,  and  embarked  in  tlii' 
first  I  could  find. 

As  the  coast  of  Rhodes  receded  from  my  view,  my  heart, 
boat  higher  with  eagerness  and  with  hope.  It  seemed  to 
me  as  if  thus  far  I  had  only  been  trifling  away  my  exist- 
cjicc  in  contemptible  pursuits,  and  in  a  contracted  sphere. 
I  was  now,  for  the  first  time,  going  to  take  a  flight  woi- 
thy  of  the  strength  of  my  pinions.  Wide  views,  noblr 
prospects,  vast  plans  of  fortune  and  of  fame,  all  at  once, 
as  if  by  the  drawing  of  a  curtain,  expanded  to  my  enrap- 
tured view. 


ANASTASIUS.  173 


CHAPTER  XV. 

The  sacoleva  which  carried  Anastasius  and  his  for- 
Uiiics  was  first  to  toiicli  at  Casiel-rosso,  there  to  take  in 
firewood  for  Alexaiuiria.  The  captain  seemed  to  have 
no  acquaintance  whatever  with  the  coast  for  which  we 
were  bound;  nor  <-ould  any  of  his  crew  boast  less  igno- 
rance;  but  they  all  agreed  that  Providence  was  great; 
and,  in  order  to  set  the  greatness  of  Providence  in  its 
fullest  light,  they  always  kept  as  close  as  possible  to  a 
shore  set  round  with  hidden  reefs,  and  teeming  with 
avowed  pirates. 

On  the  second  day  of  our  departure  Castel-rosso  came 
in  sight.  We  were  just  going  to  double  the  most  ad- 
vanced promontory  of  the  island,  and  to  cast  anchor  for 
the  night  behind  its  projecting  cliffs,  when  on  our  last 
tack  there  suddenly  appeared  ahead  of  us,  close  in  with 
the  shore,  a  long  dark  object  of  suspicious  form,  though 
the  dusk  prevented  our  discerning  its  precise  nature.  It 
lay  on  the  water  as  still  as  a  rock,  but  it  bore  all  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  filled  to  the  brim  with  hfe.  In  fact,  it 
i-cemed  to  be  neither  more  nor  less  than  a  pirate-boat  of 
most  respectable  size,  lying  close  to  surprise  us.  At  this 
sight  our  caravokeiri  grew  as  pale  as  a  ghost ;  and  all  the 
crew  showed  equal  signs  of  (courage.  "  A  bad  way  this," 
cried  1,  "  to  meet  danger !  Tlie  pirates  cannot  see  more  of 
us  than  we  do  of  them:  let  us  at  least  try  wliat  a  show  of 
resolution  may  effect."  And  hereupon  I  got  the  swivels 
pointed,  every  pistol  cracker  put  in  requisition,  our 
whole  artillery  brought  upon  deck,  and  every  prepa- 
ration made  for  a  warm  engagement.  The  moment  we 
thought  ourselves  within  musket-shot  of  the  enemy  I 
gave  the  signal  for  firing.  "  If  the  compliment  produce 
nothing  else,"  thought  1,  "  it  will  at  least  make  the  scoun- 
drels turn  out  and  show  their  size  and  strength."  Off 
went  our  first  volley,  and  after  it  every  eye  ;  expecting 
immediately  to  see  the  liostile  galley  in  the  utmost  bustle. 
On  the  contrary,  she  stirred  not  an  inch ;  and  so  far  from 
changing  her  position,  deigned  not  even  to  return  our  sa- 
lute. Half-surprised  and  half-piqued,  we  repeat  our  fire. 
It  is  no  more  noticed  than  the  first.    Still  more  amazed 


174  ANASTASIUS- 

we  give  a  third  broadside.  Even  this  makes  no  irapreS' 
5ion.  Cut  with  the  seeming  shyness  of  the  enemy,  0U2 
own  bravery  rises.  We  approach  near  enough  to  be  quite 
sure  of  our  artillery  bearing,  and  a  fourth  time  discharge 
every  gun  into  the  hostile  deck.  Still  she  remained  as 
motionless  and  silent  as  ever;  and  we  continued  inces- 
santly firing,  without  the  smallest  retaliation  or  stir  on  the 
part  of  our  antagonist,  until,  by  degrees,  this  very  impas- 
sibility of  the  enemy  began  to  alarm  us  more  even  than  the 
utmost  fury  of  retort  could  have  done.  For  we  now  fan- 
cied ourselves  under  the  inflence  of  some  spell :  we 
.supposed  that  we  beheld  nothing  but  an  unsubstantial 
vision  :  we  became  convinced  that  we  were  fighting  only 
with  the  phantom  of  a  ship ;  which  presently  would  either 
vanish,  and  draw  us  with  irresistible  force  after  it  into 
the  fatal  vortex,  or  explode  with  a  dreadful  crash,  and 
bury  us  under  its  wide-spreading  wreck.  As,  however, 
neither  happened,  and  the  vessel  seemed  equally  little  in- 
clined to  rise  or  to  sink,  we  at  last  adopted  the  only  plausi- 
ble conjecture  left  us,  namely,  that  the  veiy  few  men 
which  she  contained  had  all  been  killed  or  disabled  by 
our  very  first  broadside.  We  therefore  contented  our- 
selves with  keeping  up  a  slack  fire  during  the  remainder 
of  the  night ;  proposing,  as  soon  as  the  dawn  appeared, 
to  board  her,  in  order  to  divide  the  spoil,  and  to  remove 
the  dead  bodies. 

The  dawn  at  last  did  appear,  though  certainly  much 
later  than  usual ;  and  to  our  straining  eyes  showed  in  the 
object  of  the  whole  night's  strenuous  fighting — at  the  ex- 
pense of  all  our  powder  and  ball — a  small  rock  in  the  sea, 
which  from  the  peculiarity  of  its  shape  actually  bears  the 
name  of  the  Galley.  We  agreed  to  say  nothing  about 
our  smart  engagement  with  it.  But  our  modesty  was,  in 
spite  of  our  caution,  put  to  the  blush.  The  whole  island 
of  Castel-rosso  had  been  alarmed  by  the  incessant  firing; 
every  part  of  the  shore  was  lined  with  spectators,  eager 
to  witness  the  combat;  and  the  moment  we  landed,  all 
the  inhabitants  crowded  round  us,  and  in  loud  congratu- 
lations wished  us  joy  of  having  silenced  the  enemy! 

The  cargo  of  wood  being  taken  in,  we  pursued  our 
voyage.  It  seemed  an  eternity  in  duration.  Our  crew 
knew  no  other  mode  of  sailing  than  right  before  the  wind  ; 
and  the  least  cloud  that  arose  made  them  put  into  the  first 
creek  they  could  reach,  wholly  heedless  of  the  risk  of 
splitting  upon  a  rock,  or  running  aground  upon  a  shoal. 


\NASTASIUS.  175 

Coasting  from  one  headland  to  another,  we  slowly  crept 
round  every  cape  or  promontory  on  our  way  ;  and  there 
scarce  exists,  1  believe,  a  single  hole  or  nook  large  or 
small  on  the  whole  coast  of  Caramania  whicli  we  did  not 
successively  visit.  Wiien  the  wind  increased  to  what 
M'as  called  a  fortuna.  the  sailors  could  only  think  of 
praying  and  lighting  tapers  befoi'e  the  Panagia,  and  as 
soon  as  fair  weather  returned,  they  could  only  dance  and 
play  upon  the  guitar  ;  nor  ever  thought  of  repairing  the 
damage  done  to  the  ship,  until  reminded  of  it  by  a  fresh 
storm.  Still  was  tlie  first  part  of  our  journey,  compared 
with  the  latter,  ihe  flight  of  the  swallow  contrasted  with  the 
creeping  of  the  tortoise.  In  the  latitude  of  Damiate  Fate 
seemed  to  have  fixed  us  for  life ;  and  we  thought  our- 
selves doomed  never  to  pass  the  eastern  outlet  of  the 
Nile,  even  with  the  assistancx'  of  some  more  experienced 
sailors  whom  we  there  got  on  board.  Every  inch  the 
feeble  breeze  enabled  us  to  advance,  the  strong  cunent  as 
regularly  drove  us  back;  so  that  on  our  starboard  tack 
we  invariably  lost  all  we  had  gained  on  the  larboard. 
Day  after  day  at  sunrise  we  had  the  satisfaction  to  find 
ourselves  just  in  the  same  place  from  whence  we  had 
parted  at  sunset  the  evening  before.  The  fatal  mouth  of 
the  stream  seemed  to  breathe  a  fascination  which  no 
earthly  power  could  overcome  ! 

An  aerial  one  at  last  fl<^'"  lu  our  assistance.  It  arose 
on  the  fifth  day  of  our  vain  attempts,  in  the  shape  of  a 
sciruc  sufficiently  strong  to  cope  with  the  current. 
Backed  by  the  burning  blast  we  doubled  the  point  of  the 
Delta  in  the  very  teeth  of  the  perverse  tide,  and  thus 
approaciied  the  goal.  Even  before  we  could  discern  the 
sandy  shore  on  which  it  stands  we  behold  the  town  of 
Alexandria,  crowned  with  minarets,  and  encircled  with 
dale-trees. 

In  its  quality  of  Grecian  property,  our  vessel  cast  an- 
chor in  the  new  harbour;  the  old  being  reserved  for 
stanch  Mussulman  keels.  Hell  itself,  as  the  bourn  of 
a  long  sea-voyage,  would  have  appeared  to  me  a  very 
habitable  place ;  Alexandria  seemed  heaven.  In  its 
melancholy  moimds  of  barren  sand  I  could  only  see 
pleasing  swells,  and  in  its  dismal  ruins  a  picturesque  rug- 
gedness.  Its  inliabitants,  ready  to  assume  any  hue  or 
form  at  will,  were  a  sort  of  human  chameleons:  but  chame- 
leons may  afford  entertainment  by  their  constant  changes. 
To  me  the  contrast  between  the  liveliness  of  the  Alexan- 


176  ANASTASIUS. 

drians  and  the  solemn  stupidity  of  the  Turks  seemed 
quite  enchanting.  As  I  went  to  secure  my  night's 
lodging  at  an  okkal,*  I  was  every  instant  arrested  by  their 
wit  and  repartee.  "  How  pleasant  it  must  be  to  reside 
licre,"  said  J  to  myself;  "  gay  people  are  always  so  good- 
Jialured !" 

The  words  were  scarce  out  of  my  mouth,  when  I  heard 
at  some  distance  a  loud  and  increasing  clamour,  which 
I  supposed  to  be  that  of  some  rejoicing  or  festival. 
Presently  appeared  an  immense  crowd  of  people  of  every 
age  and  description— men,  women,  and  chddreii — rending 
the  air  with  their  shouts.  In  the  midst  of  the  motley 
assemblage  advanced  in  a  separate  cluster  a  chosen  band, 
trailing  after  them  in  procession,  with  louder  howlings 
than  the  rest,  the  city  weights  and  scales. 

"What  means  this  ceremony?"  said  1,  accosting  one 
of  the  actors  in  this  novel  scene.  "  For  what  purpose 
are  these  instruments  traveUing  V — "  For  the  purpose  of 
gibbeting  the  chief  of  the  customs,  a  Syriac  Christian, 
on  the  instrument  of  his  tnalc^^ractices,"  hastily  answered 
the  fellow,  impatient  at  the  detention. 

"  And  has  the  law  weighed  and  found  him  wanting  1"" 
— "  How  couki  it  help  doing  so  1"  was  the  reply,  "  when 
we  all  demanded  his  punishment?  We  insisted  on  the 
shar-allah — tlie  justice  of  (Jod ;  and  the  cadee  himself 
thought  us  too  many  not  to  be  in  the  right.  So  v^e  are 
going  to  execute  the  sentence." 

Having  now  carried  his  courtesy  to  the  utmost  stretch, 
the  man  bade  me  adieu,  for  fear  of  further  questions,  and 
ran  after  his  companions,  who  already  were  out  of  sight. 
For  my  part  I  contented  myself  with  inwardly  praying 
to  Allah  that  I  might  be  preserved  from  his  justice  ;  and 
particularly  at  Alexandria. 

My  apartment  at  the  okkal  being  secured  for  the  night, 
I  went  to  a  native  of  the  place  who  followed  the  various 
trades  of  shijj-agent,  interpreter,  and  pilot,  in  order  to  get 
a  conveyance  the  next  day  for  Raschid.f  In  his  youth 
the  personage  to  whom  I  applied  for  assistance  had 
served  on  board  Marseillese,  Venetian,  and  Leghorn 
traders.  He  spoke  with  equal  fluency  the  Turkish, 
the  Arabic,  the  Greek,  the  Provengal,  and  the  Lingua 
Franca.  On  entering  his  small  abode,  where  he  sat  with 
open  door  in  readiness  to  receive  strangers,  I  found  him 

*  Okkal— name  for  an  inn  or  caravanserai,  in  Egypt, 
t  Raschid— Roscita, 


ANA3TASIUS.  177 

gravely  discussing  with  a  Franciscan  monk,  over  a  bottle 
of  rakie,*  the  relative  merits  of  Iblamism  and  of  Popery. 

"  Hark  ye,  fatlier,"  said  he,  speaking  with  such  a  volu- 
bility of  tongue  and  violence  of  gesture,  that  at  first  I 
thought  liiui  in  a  tremendous  passion,  "  1  do  not  mean 
to  pass  myself  off  for  the  most  squeamish  of  Moslemen. 
In  my  long  intercourse  with  infidels  (begging  your  par- 
don) I  have  been  obliged  occasionally  to  relax  a  little 
from  the  rigour  oi  our  practices.  Sometimes,  when  time 
ran  short,  to  mumble  half  a  prayer  instead  of  a  whole 
one ;  and  when  water  was  scarce,  to  perform  my  ablu- 
tions to  the  chine  only  instead  of  to  the  elbows;  nor  did 
I  always  remember,  when  a  good  joint  of  meat  was 
smoking  on  the  table,  and  I  sharp-set  with  a  long  fast, 
to  inquire  before  I  fell  to,  whether  the  beast  had  been 
stabbed  with  a  knife  or  knocked  down  with  a  hatchet. 
But,  thank  God !  I  have  never  been  a  rank  heathen — a 
kafr.  I  never,  like  you,  believed  in  scores  of  gods,  nor 
w  orshipped  idols  of  wood  and  brass." 

"  Merciful  Faihei,"  cried  the  friar,  setting  down  the 
rakie  already  in  contact  with  his  lips,  "  nor  I  neither,  nor 
any  of  us  !    How  can  you  say  such  things  V 

"How  can  H"  answered  the  Alexandriote,  "but 
from  having  witnessed  tliem  with  my  own  eyes  !  Who 
among  you,  I  beg,  thinks  of  celebrating  a  festival, 
building  a  mosque,  addressing  a  prayer,  vowing  a  present, 
imparting  a  wish,  or  expressing  a  want  to  any  but  St, 
Anthony  of  Padua,  St.  Francis  of  Assisi,  St.  John,  St. 
James,  St.  Peter,  St.  Paul,  St.  Agnes,  St.  Catlierine,  St. 
Cecilia,  or  any  other  of  the  saints  and  saintesses,  whose 
interference  quite  leaves  Providence  a  cipher,  and  whose 
immber  exceeds  that  of  days  on  which  to  worship  them? 
In  whose  name  but  in  that  of  these  officious  go-betweens 
are  your  oxen,  and  your  sheep,  and  your  poultry,  and 
}-our  veiy  pigs,  blessed  by  the  priests  at  the  church  door? 
in  whose  honour  but  theirs  do  you  suspend  over  your 
altars  silver  tokens  of  broken  heads  and  hearts,  of  chil- 
dren born,  and  grown  people  mended  ■?  Can  your  cook 
so  much  as  bake  his  meat  but  by  favour  of  St.  Lawrence  : 
delighted,  it  seems,  to  be  reminded  of  his  ow^n  broiling 
on  a  gridiron  1  And  as  to  worshipping  wooden  images 
— have  I  not  seen  whole  shoals  of  Nazarenes  leave  the 
nicest,  whitest,  tidiest  little  madonnas  which  your  toy- 

*  Rakie— an  ardent  spirit. 

lis 


i78  ANASTASIUS, 

shops  could  produce,  with  flaxen  wigs  and  flounced  furbe- 
lows, at  home,  quite  neglected,  to  travel  perhaps  five 
hundred  leagues  barefoot  to  some  old  mouldering  figure, 
as  ugly  as  a  scarecrow  and  as  black  as  a  negro ;  which 
strange  fancy,  you  will  allow,  could  only  arise  from  some 
peculiar  virtue  assigned  to  the  latter,  extracted  as  they 
thought  by  rubbing  their  noddle  against  iis  greasy  pate.'" 

"  As  to  that,  child,"  replied  the  friar — taking  a  fresh 
sip  of  his  rakie,  and  pursing  up  his  mouth  like  one  who 
is  going  to  give  an  unanswerable  answer — "  it  is  only  on 
the  score  of  supeiior  resemblance.  All  the  world  knows 
that  the  Holy  Virgin  sat  for  her  picture  to  St.  Luke :  and 
we  may  suppose  she  wishes  to  distinguish  the  originals 
by  some  peculiar  mark  of  favour." 

"  Well !"  exclaimed  the  Alexandriote,  in  astonishment, 
"  if  she  had  been  my  wife !" — but  again  checking  himself, 
"  and  pray,"  added  he,  "your  other  saints,  have  they  also 
each  had  his  painter  V 

"  No  doubt,"  replied  tlie  Franciscan  ;  "  all  great  per- 
sonages with  us  sit  for  their  portraits.  I  myself  have 
sat,  both  as  a  Cupid  and  a  friar." 

The  factor  now  got  up,  and  fetching  a  little  parcel 
which  he  gave  to  the  padre,  "  There,"  said  he,  "  are  the 
St.  Domingo  beans  you  wanted.  They  are  the  very  best 
I  could  find  in  the  market.  You  may  safely  send  them 
to  your  friends  in  Christendom,  and  be  sure  that,  when 
well  roasted,  like  St.  Lawrence  aforesaid,  they  will  drink 
them  for  pure  aiokha,  and  admire  how  superior  they  are 
in  flavom-  to  the  vile  West  India  coffee."  Upon  tiiis,  ho 
slapped  the  father  on  the  back,  dismissed  him,  and  asked 
my  business.  I  had  made  signs  to  him  before  not  to 
break  off  the  discu.5sion,  which  I  thouglit  rather  divertinjr. 

On  stating  my  intention  to  go  to  Raschid,  he  agreed 
for  my  passage  on  board  one  of  the  country  djerms.* 
It  was  to  sail  early  the  next  morning;  and  at  the 
appointed  time  I  went  to  secure  my  birth. 

The  boat  seemed  chiefly  loaded  with  live  stock ;  and 
by  far  the  noisiest  article  of  this  description  was  a  lot 
of  female  slaves,  selected  from  among  a  ship-load  lately 
brought  for  sale  to  Alexandria.  A  sliarp  grego-maestro, 
which  kept  blowing  in  our  teeth  all  daylong,  and  at  dusk 
forced  us  to  anchor  before  Eekier,  enabled  me  to  fomi 
some  estimate  of  the  value  of  this  cargo.    In  the  small 

*  Djeraw— small  country  vessels, ' 


ANASTASirs.  17^ 

place  where  we  were  all  huddled  pell-mell,  the  motion 
and  the  rolling  produced  by  the  storm  afforded  me  every 
opportunity  1  could  wish  (or  of  forming  an  acquamtance 
with  such  of  the  ladies  as  looked  most  social ;  nor  did 
our  innocent  chit-chat  suffer  any  interruption  from  the 
watchfulness  of  llieir  keeper,  who,  horribly  sea-sick,  lay 
speechless  in  the  hold,  and  never  opened  his  mouth  for 
any  purpose  at  all  calculated  to  interrupt  our  conversation. 
His  charge,  inured  to  the  sea  by  the  voyage  of  the  Euxine 
and  the  Mediterranean,  only  laughed  at  his  distress,  and, 
in  defiance  of  winds  and  waves,  chattered  away  like 
magpies.  A  Tcherkassian  damsel,  whose  large  black 
eyes  seemed  quite  determined  not  to  suffer  from  the  con- 
cealment of  her  other  charms,  chiefly  attracted  my  atten- 
tion. She  rewarded  my  notice  with  her  utmost  con- 
fidence, and  gave  me  the  rude  sketch  of  her  rough 
adventures. 

"  One  evening,"  said  she,  "  when  I  was  in  bed,  and  pre- 
tended to  be  asleep,  my  parents  began  to  talk,  as  usual, 
about  the  trouble  I  gave  them.  My  mother  wished  me 
far  away.  My  father  observed,  nothing  was  so  easy  as 
to  fulfil  this  wish.  A  Turkish  merchant,  who  used  every 
two  or  three  years  to  come  and  cnllfct  slaves  in  our 
countrjs  had  arrived  that  very  day;  and  assuredly  it  wa? 
fairer  that  those  who  had  had  all  the  expense  should 
have  the  profit  of  me,  rather  than  the  neighbouring  Tar- 
tars, who  were  every  day  cariying  off  some  of  our  girls 
to  sell  to  the  Turks.  My  mother  now  changed  her  tone, 
and  would  not  hear  of  parting  with  her  only  daughter. 
But  mj'  father,  telling  her  she  v/as  always  perverse, 
offered  iier  an  alternative  between  what  she  liked  better 
than  keeping,  and  what  she  disliked  worse  than  losing 
me  :  a  cask  of  brandy  or  a  sound  cudgelling.  She  took 
the  spirits  and  gave  up  her  child.  The  next  day  I  was 
carried  to  the  merchant.  After  a  great  deal  of  haggling, 
he  bought,  or  rather  accepted  me,  in  exchange  for  arms, 
apparel,  and  other  such  things.  I  was  stowed  on  board 
a  small  vessel,  with  a  number  of  other  slaves  picked  up 
in  various  parts.  Most  of  them  had  been  sold  by  their 
landlords  in  payment  of  rent.  The  ship  proved  so  leaky 
that  we  never  expected  to  reach  Stambool.  By  a  miracle, 
however,  w'e  got  there.  At  least,  so  I  was  told :  for  1 
)iever  saw  any  thing  of  the  place  except  the  large  ugly 
khan  in  which  we  were  housed.  Our  owner  here  had  us 
taught  the  requisites  for  a  ready  sale — the  Mohammedan 


180  ANASTASIUS. 

religion,  music,  and  dancing.  Every  day  customers  of 
various  descriptions  used  to  come  and  chea])en  some 
among  us.  Ttie  price  set  on  me  was  what  few  could 
afford :  but  my  time  meanwhile  passed  comfortably.  I 
had  plenty  to  eat,  heaps  of  fine  clothes,  and  a  looking- 
glass  to  myself.  I  should  have  been  quite  happy  but  for 
the  dread  of  being  bouglit  for  the  grand  signor,  who, 
they  say,  has  so  many  wives,  he  does  not  know  what  to 
do  with  them,  and  though  as  old  as  Methuselah,  yet  must 
have  a  new  one  every  Christmas.  Think  of  being  laid 
on  the  shelf  at  the  death  of  this  old  spindle-shanks,  as 
useless  lumber,  in  an  ancient  seraglio  with  tremendously 
high  walls;  thereto  remain  for  life  neither  single  nor 
married  !  This  fate  I  escaped.  The  kehaya  of  Yousouf- 
hej',  of  Cairo,  bought  me  for  his  master,  with  some  of 
my  companions.  We  were  immediately  shipped  off  in 
a  very  comfortable  vessel :  hardly  ever  had  a  whipping 
during  the  whole  voyage ;  and  here  we  are,  on  the  eve, 
thank  God  !  of  reaching  our  final  destination.  To  me  it 
promises  a  paradise.  I  wish  I  could  say  as  much  iu 
favour  of  my  companions.  But,  poor  things  !  they  were 
only,  as  it  were,  thrown  into  the  bargain ;  and,  1  fear, 
will  remain  all  their  lives  mere  drudges." 

This  last  piece  of  intelligence,  though  conveyed  in  a 
very  low  whisper,  did  not  escape  the  quick  ears  of  the 
dauisels  for  whom  Haniida  expressed  such  unacceptable 
compassion.  I  thought  it  would  liave  occasioned  an  im- 
mediate engagement.  With  one  accord  the  whole  party 
rose  up  from  their  mattresses,  and,  gathering  round  the 
frightened  Hamida,  abused  her  for  telling  such  falsehoods 
— she !  a  low-bred  Tcherkassian,  without  faith,  fat,  or 
manners — and  that  too  of  Georgians  like  them,  who,  a* 
home,  every  day  used  to  go  to  mass,  and  had  as  much 
victuals  as  ever  they  wished  to  eat !  But  Hamida's 
own  mettle  rose  at  the  base  insinuation,  and  facing  her 
assailants  boldly,  "  It  signifies  much  truly,"  replied  she, 
in  an  ironical  tone,  "  from  what  country  w^e  come,  when 
none  of  us  will  ever  see  it  again ;  and  whether  we  had 
much  or  little  of  our  religion,  when  we  have  all  renounced 
it  alike  !  And  as  to  our  fat — which  is  the  most  material 
point — that  must  be  seen  to  be  judged  of." 

"  Then  let  it,"  replied  all  the  others  in  chorus  ;  "  and 
trust  to  us  for  seeing  nothing !"  and  immediately  they  all 
fell  upon  poor  Hamida;  forcibly  tore  open  her  feridge, 
and  displayed  her  bosom.    It  might  not  answer  the 


ANASTASIUS.  18$ 

irlmost  amplitude  of  Asiatic  ideas,  but  I  confess,  though 
I  looked  hard,  I  perceived  no  deficiency. 

Even  before  this  exhibition,  the  keeper  of  the  ladies 
had  cast  sundry  savage  glances  our  way.  He  now  con- 
trived, sick  as  he  was,  to  crawl  unperceived  among  the  busy 
group,  and  only  announced  his  presence  by  unexpectedly 
laying  about  him  with  sucii  energy,  as  not  only  to  sepa- 
rate the  combatants,  but  to  send  them  slinking  away  to 
the  furthest  corner  of  the  hold.  He  then  laid  himself ' 
down  before  them,  and  thus  formed  an  effectual  mediator 
for  the  prevention  of  further  disputes. 

No  one  remained  on  the  field  of  battle  except  the  spec- 
*ators :  namely,  myself  and  a  single  female,  as  different 
from  our  Circassian  as  night  is  from  day;  an  Abyssinian 
negro  woman.  Manumitted  by  her  last  master,  the  dusky 
nymph  had  nobody  to  whom  she  was  accountable  for  her 
conversation  but  herself,  feared  not  the  interruptions  of 
n  keeper's  lash,  and  seemed  determined  to  avail  herself 
to  the  full  of  her  advantages.  She  began  by  informing 
ine  most  prolixly,  of  all  her  concerns,  past,  present,  and 
future.  At  first  she  told  me  her  stars  had  looked  but 
coolly  upon  her.  She  had  been  carried  to  Constantinople 
in  winter,  had  suffered  much  from  chilblains,  and  been 
married  to  a  black  eunuch.  But  the  husband  died,  the 
chilblains  healed,  the  summer  came,  and  lovers  began, 
like  bees,  to  buzz  about  the  black  rose.  "  Still,"  continued 
she,  "  as  I  now  was  rich,  I  resolved  again  to  quit  the  cold 
climate  of  Constantinople,  and  gradually  to  reapproach 
the  milder  temperature  of  Sennaar.  Perhaps,  thought  I, 
in  my  way  at  Alexandria,  I  may  chance  to  find  among 
the  Mav/garbees*  some  proper  husband  for  my  money,  to 
make  me  amends  for  my  former  empty  honours.  Nothing, 
however,  worthy  the  acceptance  of  the  widow  of  Ibra- 
him-aga,  offered ;  and  I  am  now  moving  onwards  to 
Cairo,  where,  wholly  independent  of  your  insipid  whites, 
I  am  quite  sure  of  suitably  matching  my  own  colour: 
unless,"  added  she,  with  a  significant  glance,  "  something 
veiy  tempting  should  offer  by  the  way." 

That  this  something  actually  had  offered,  and  that  every 
objection  to  the  insipidity  of  whites  had  been  ov:!rcome, 
I  felt  sufficiently  sure  by  the  lady's  expressive  ceillades. 
Certain  of  her  own  approval,  she  did  not  in  the  least 
seem  to  trouble  herself  about  any  possible  objection  on 

*  The  Mawgarbees— men  from  Garbieb,  or  the  West ;  name  given  to  tl» 
jBaTbarestjues. 


182  ANASTASIUS. 

my  part ;  and  her  advances  soon  became  so  marked,  thai 
nothing  could  have  saved  me  but  the  timely  interposition 
of  the  Bogliaz.  This  formidable  sandbank,  which  muz- 
zles the  mouth  of  the  Nile,  was  announced  at  a  most 
critical  moment :  and  if  many  have  been  wrecked  upon  it. 
Anastasius  found  in  its  elTects  the  direct  reverse.  Im- 
)nediately  all  coquetry  ceased.  Every  other  passion 
j'ielded  to  terror.  The  Circassians  screamed,  the  Turks 
fainted,  and  the  negress  turned  as  pale  as  she  was  able. 
Even  after  the  pcrU  was  surmounted,  all  thoughts  of 
taking  the  citadel  by  storm  seemed  laid  aside ;  and  the 
siege  dwindled  into  a  mere  blockade,  wiiich  lasted  till  .vc 
got  to  Rascliid. 

The  abrupt  transition  from  the  yellow  aridity  of  Alex- 
andria to  the  verdant  freshness  of  Raschid,  rising  on  the 
margin  of  a  beautiful  river.  And  embosomed  in  orange, 
in  sycamore,  and  date-trees,  miirht  have  given  a  fore- 
taste of  Elysium.  I  spent  a  whole  day  in  a  jasmine 
arbour,  eating  bananas,  and  drinking  the  juice  of  the  sugar- 
cane ;  and  after  thus  having  truly  tasted  the  sweets  of 
Raschid,  re-embarked  on  board  a  maash,*  destined  to  sail 
up  the  river,  and  to  land  us  at  Cairo.  It  resembled  Noah's 
ark,  was  filled  with  beasts  of  every  description,  and  sur- 
rounded by  a  universal  flood.  As  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach,  the  waters  of  the  Nile  suffered  nothing  to  rise 
above  their  surface  but  the  towns  and  villages,  looking 
on  their  artificial  platforms  as  if  floating  in  trays  on  the 
liquid  plain.  Among  the  strange  animals  which  our  barge 
conveyed  across  this  vast  watery  waste,  shone  conspicuous 
from  the  bright  yellow  of  his  glossy  skin  a  short  bloated 
biped,  w  ho,  on  a  head  scarce  peeping  above  his  shoulders, 
wore,  perfectly  poised,  a  huge  flat  turban,  which  gave 
the  tout-ensemble  the  complete  proportions  of  a  toadstool ; 
and  trulj%  in  the  eyes  of  the  other  natives,  this  natural 
production  seemed  very  much  held  in  similar  estima- 
lion  v/ith  a  fungus.  An  Osmanlee  of  Cairo — a  man  of 
unusual  information  for  his  country,  and  of  open  pleasant, 
manners — seeing  the  wonder  with  which  I  contemplated 
this  figure,  whispered  me,  "  Coobd  is  the  name  these 
people  give  tliemselves,  and  they  trace  their  descent 
from  the  ancient  Kgyptians ;  but  they  have  changed  the  ob- 
jectof  their  worship  from  cats  and  onions  to  gold;  and  the 
only  hieroglyphics  they  preserve  are  those  which  secure. 

*  Maaah— covered  passage-boats  that  sail  up  and  down  the  Nile. 


ANASTASItTiB.  ibli 

to  tliem  the  exclusive  knowledge  of  the  size,  produce, 
and  boundaries  of  all  the  tracts  of  the  country  susceptible 
of  cultivation.  Nor  is  this,  in  their  hands,  a  mere  specu- 
lative and  barren  science.  It  secures  them  the  steward- 
ship of  all  the  property  of  their  Mohammedan  masters. 
More  conversant  in  arms  than  in  arithmetic,  we  canno! 
dispense  with  this  vermin,  though  it  lives  upon  our  best 
substance  ;  and  every  Mussulman,  of  any  rank  or  wealth, 
from  the  schaich-el-belled*  who  farms  the  whole  territorial 
contributions  of  I'^gypt,  to  the  smallest  aga  of  a  village, 
or  subtenant  of  the  schaich-el-belled,  has  his  Coobtic 
steward  or  writer,  whose  accounts  he  understands  just  as 
much  as  the  Coobd  understands  the  language  of  his  own 
prayers.  He  only  knows  that  he  is  cheated,  and  has  no 
way  to  help  himself." 

Night,  meantime,  had  begun  to  cast  its  veil  over  even 
fhc  nearest  objects,  when,  on  a  sudden  turn  of  the  river, 
we  all  at  once  beheld  at  a  distance  before  us  the  most 
splendid  spectacle.  The  left  bank  of  the  Nile  seemed 
for  a  considerable  space  in  an  entire  blaze,  and  the  lumi- 
nous streak  which  edged  the  winding  shore  produced  by 
its  reflection  a  parallel  line  of  light  in  the  mirror  of  the 
stream,  resembling  a  riband  edged  with  fire.  It  ran  along, 
glittering  more  brilliantly  from  the  surrounding  darkness. 
From  the  spot  which  it  skirted  issued  an  incessant  clang 
of  cimbals,  of  kettledrums,  and  other  musical  instru- 
ments; and  as  we  approached  near  enougli  to  discern  in 
the  fairy  spectacle  the  effects  of  a  most  extensive  illumi- 
nation, the  shouts  and  song  of  innumerable  voices  met 
the  ear.  The  place  tluis  distinguished  was  Mektoobes, 
famous  in  all  seasons  for  its  gayety,  and  at  this  particu- 
lar period  celebrating  its  patron  schaich  or  saint,  whose 
festival  drew  together  the  population  of  all  the  sur- 
rounding districts.  For  almost  a  mile  the  quay  was  lined 
with  barges  so  closely  wedged,  that  one  might  walk  from 
deck  to  deck ;  while  the  interior  of  the  town  was  ren- 
dered as  liglit  as  day  by  thousands  of  lamps,  some  wind- 
ing from  tiie  base  to  the  summit  of  the  minarets  in  para- 
sitic spirals,  others  festooned  from  pinnacle  to  pinnacle 
m  aerial  curves,  others  again  expanding  in  wreaths,  in 
wheat-sheaves,  and  other  fanciful  forms.  As  we  drew 
jiearer,  the  eye  was  not  more  dazzled  by  the  glare  of 

*  Schaich-el-belled— chief  of  the  country,  or  rather  land  ;  title  given  alike 
to  the  chief  of  the  whole  body  of  btys  of  Egypt,  and  to  the  cliief  among  the 
cotab'.es  of  a  small  district. 


184  ANASTASIUS. 

light,  tliaii  the  ear  was  stunned  by  the  din  of  instruments. 
At  every  corner  of  a  street  a  different  band  of  musicians 
played  a  different  tune,  in  hopes  of  drowning-  all  the  others 
in  its  noise  ;  and  in  every  open  space  some  different  trodp 
of  singers,  dancers,  tumblers,  sorcerers,  or  fortune-tellers 
exhibited  their  different  sorts  of  feats,  with  a  view  to 
attract  the  spectators  from  all  the  rest.  Here  a  string  of 
awalis*  strained  their  windpipes  in  tremulous  quavers, 
until  they  grew  as  hoarse  as  the  frogs  in  the  neighbouring 
ditches ;  and  there  a  knot  of  ghazief  distorted  their  limbs 
into  as  uncouth  postures  as  if  they  had  been  frogs  them- 
selves ;  and  while  one  portion  of  our  passengers  stood 
watching  the  tricks  of  a  juggler,  whose  troop  of  performers 
consisted  in  a  basketful  of  serpents,  another  portion  sat 
gaping  at  the  feats  of  a  rival  mountebank,  whose  chef- 
d'cBuvre  was  turning  water  into  blood,  and  earth  into 
vermin.  I  speak  not  of  the  female  charmers,  who  pre- 
ferred for  the  exhibition  of  their  fascinations  the  darker 
places,  where  they  excelled  in  emptying  of  its  last  para 
the  closest  drawn  purse.  Of  these  syrens  our  poor  Coobd 
might  give  the  best  account.  He  had  been  missing  almost 
from  the  moment  we  went  ashore  ;  and  no  one  could 
guess  what  witchery  had  conjured  him  away,  until  we 
all  got  back  to  our  barge.  It  was  there  he  first  reap- 
peared among  us,  and  the  first  thing  he  did  was  to  untie 
his  pouch,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  damages  it  had  sus- 
tained. A  sequin  was  the  utmost  he  rated  it  at ;  and  that 
was  just  twice  as  much  as,  by  his  own  account,  the  thrifty- 
personage  had  ever  spent  on  similar  pastimes.  What  was 
his  horror  when  he  found  that,  by  an  art  exactly  contrary 
to  that  of  the  alchymists,  the  ladies,  whose  legerdemain 
tricks  he  had  been  too  curiously  investigating,  had  con- 
verted all  his  gold  into  base  metal.  His  purse  indeed, 
externally,  preserved  its  full  size  and  weight ;  but  alas, 
the  contents  had  experienced  a  sad  transmutation  !  His 
jold  was  all  turned  into  brass ! 

At  any  other  period,  the  adventures  of  Mektoobcs,  and 
the  misfortunes  of  the  Coobd,  would  have  furnished  ma- 
terials  for  conversation  till  we  reached  Cairo;  but  at 
this  moment,  the  mind  of  no  Egyptian  born  was  suffi- 
ciently disengaged  for  such  idle  talk.  A  topic  of  higher, 
more  universal,  and  more  vital  interest,  engaged  every 

♦  Awalis— plural  for  Almi"' ;  public  female  singers- 
I  Gbazie— feniale  public  dancer. 


ANASTASIUS.  18S 

thought,  and  dwelt  on  every  lip;  absorbed  the  whole 
mind  of  man,  woman,  and  child ;  and  was  sure,  what- 
ever other  subject  even  the  most  remote  from  it  misrht 
accidentally  be  started,  ultimately,  by  imperceptible 
steps,  to  regain  full  possession  of  every  receptacle  of 
thoug:ht ! 

This  was  the  rise  of  the  Nile,  the  phenomenon  on 
whose  measure  and  degree  depended,  throughout  Egypt, 
the  serious  difference  between  plenty  and  famine ;  and 
whose  increase,  perceptible  inch  by  inch,  and  sometimes 
rapid,  sometimes  slow,  and  sometimes  entirely  at  a  stand, 
kept,  while  it  lasted,  every  eye  on  the  stretch,  and  every 
mind  in  a  fever. 

In  vain,  as  a  stranger  not  yet  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  the  universal  subject,  I  now  and  then  tried  to  turn  the 
conversation  into  another  channel.  The  slimy  ducts 
that  carried  the  muddy  waves  of  the  Nile  to  the  farthest 
limits  of  the  country  were  the  only  channels  which  my 
hearers  had  senses  for.  When  I  talked  of  Hassan's  ex- 
pedition to  the  Morea,  a  person  on  my  right  observed  it 
must  have  liappened  the  year  when  the  river  only  rose 
iifteen  cubits;  when  I  hoped  to  engage  the  attention  of 
the  company  by  describing  the  splendours  of  the  sultan's 
court,  a  man  on  my  left  asked  whose  office  it  was  to 
bring  him  the  daily  intelligence  of  the  Nile's  increase; 
and  when  T  extolled  the  beauty  of  our  islands,  some  one, 
who  till  that  instant  had  never  opened  his  lips,  sighed  to 
think  they  had  no  rivers  to  rise  like  the  Nile.  I  now 
despaired  of  any  other  general  conversation,  and,  in 
order  to  hear  the  last  of  the  ruling  topic,  took  my  Os- 
manlee  friend  aside,  supplicated  as  a  favour  that  he 
would  first  say  all  his  imagination  could  possibly  sug- 
gest concerning  the  Nile,  and  would  then  vouchsafe  to 
give  me  a  little  sketch  of  the  last  political  events  of 
Eaypt.  This  lie  readily  undertook,  and  as  his  hiforma- 
tion  on  that  subject  may  render  more  intelligible  my  own 
subsequent  adventures  in  that  country,  I  shall  here 
transfer  it  to  the  reader — in  substance  more  than  in 
form — and  with  such  additions  and  emendations  as  I 
subsequently  derived  from  my  own  obserA'ation. 


186  ANASTASIUb'. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


"  Egypt,"  said  (or  said  not)  my  Osnianlee,  "  after  its 
conquest  by  Omar,  first  obeyed  a  race  of  Arab  sovereigns 
called  caliphs.  To  these  succeeded,  on  its  occupation 
by  Selah-el-din,  a  race  of  Tartar  princes  denominated 
sultans. 

"It  was  the  early  practice  prevailing  in  every  country 
under  Tartar  government,  to  leave  the  cultivation  of  the 
around  to  the  freeboni  peasant,  and  to  employ  the  prisoner 
taken  in  war  and  the  purchased  slave  in  domestic  and 
personal  services  alone.  When,  however,  the  Tartar 
swarms,  in  their  southward  progress,  came  in  contact 
with  black  and  woolly-haired  nations,  the  destination  of 
their  slaves  became  as  changed  as  their  colour.  The 
more  pliant  and  pacific  negro,  foreign  in  habits  as  in 
looks  from  his  purchaser,  was,  under  the  name  of  abd  or 
domestic  slave,  confined  to  household  services,  and  was 
never  kept  for  defence.  Admitted  to  the  highest  posts 
in  the  household,  he  could  attain  no  advancement  iu  the 
slate.  The  more  warlike  white  slave,  on  the  contrary, 
not  unfrequeiitly  tlie  neighbour,  nay,  the  relation,  of  his 
master  in  the  (-ouutry  whence  both  derived  their  origin, 
and  considered  more  able  to  wield  a  patron's  authority, 
and  more  fit  to  represent  his  person,  was,  under  the  name 
of  mamluke,  tiained  up  to  arms  as  well  as  to  attend- 
ance. While  ill  his  master's  house,  he  served  him  not 
only  as  a  domestic  but  as  his  military  guard  and  defender, 
and  when  manumitted,  he  became  entitled  to  aspire  la 
the  highest  dignities  in  the  army  and  the  state.  The 
custom  of  raisiiiir  military  slaves  or  mamlukes  to  emi- 
nent employments  has  prevailed  wherever,  throughout 
a  great  portion  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa,  a  Tartar 
dynasty  has  arisen.  Indeed,  slaves  of  this  description 
were  employed  by  Tartar  sovereigns  as  their  generals  and 
their  ministers,  in  preference  to  freemen,  whether  of  the 
conquered  or  even  of  the  conquering  race.  Torn  up  by 
the  root  from  tl)eir  native  soil,  strangers  to  that  into 
Avhich  they  were  transplanted,  unconnected  with  the 
body  at  large  either  of  the  vanquished  or  of  the  van- 
quishers, deriving  their  existence,  their  support,  their 


ANASTASrcs.  187 

greatness,  from  their  master  alone,  raised  by  his  will,  and 
at  his  nod  again  reduced  to  their  original  nothingness, 
they  appeared  of  all  descriptions  of  men  the  least  formi- 
dable to  a  despotic  ruler.  In  their  hands  the  power 
which  an  absolute  monarch  is  obliged  to  delegate  in  all 
its  fulness  to  each  of  his  ministers,  down  to  the  last  and 
least,  seemed  most  exempt  from  the  danger  of  being 
turned  against  its  author. 

"  No  device,  however,  has  yet  been  discovered,  by  which 
a  single  hand  can  long  continue  to  hold  undivided  an 
absolute  sway  over  an  extensive  country.  He  who 
singly  must  resist  the  pressure  of  many,  is  doomed  at 
last  to  fall.  Tluis  it  fared  with  Selah-el-din's  successors. 
The  mamlukes,  intrusted  by  them  with  the  command  of 
provinces,  amended  their  original  insulation  by  their 
subsequent  leagues.  They  set  aside  their  legitimate 
sovereign,  and  established  a  military  government  in  a  re- 
publican form.  Each  of  the  fourteen  provinces  of  Egypt 
was  governed  by  its  own  bey.  These  inferior  chiefs  used 
to  assemble  in  council  under  a  president  called  schaich- 
el-belled,  or  chief  of  the  c;ountry.  In  this  divan  were  en- 
acted by  plurality  of  votes  the  decrees  for  the  common 
welfare  of  all,  and  each  bey  separately  in  his  own  depart- 
ment presided  over  their  due  execution. 

"  From  its  origin,  and  throughout  all  its  later  vicissi- 
tudes, this  republic  of  beys  has  been  perpetuated  by 
means  unexampled  to  the  same  extent  in  any  other 
country,  namely,  by  an  uninterrupted  importation  of 
strange  slaves,  transformed  by  degrees  into  rulers  of 
Egypt.  Not  that,  as  foreigners  have  sometimes  ima- 
gined, the  constitution  of  the  Egyptian  commonwealth 
prohibited  natives,  freemen,  and  actual  descendants  of 
those  in  power,  by  any  positive  law,  from  participating 
in  the  government  of  t!ie  country  :  not  tliat  any  express 
ordination  ever  reserved  the  succession  to  power  and  the 
exercise  of  autliority  exclusively  to  strangers  and  to 
slaves.  Throutrliout  every  period  of  the  domination  of 
the  beys,  instances  have  existed  of  individuals  who  were 
neither  slaves  nor  strangers,  but  freeborn  Mohammedan 
Turks,  nay,  sons  of  mamlukes  and  of  beys,  being  allowed 
to  attain  the  hiirhest  employments  in  the  state.  Three 
generations  of  beys  shone  in  the  family  of  Beloufi :  at 
this  moment,  Ibrahim,  our  schaich-el-belled,  boasts  of  the 
uTeat  destinies  that  a'.v;iit  his  son  Marzook ;  and  at  some 
'"iiturc  day  you  yourself,  who,  as  far  as  I  know,  weva 


188  ANASTASIUS. 

never  bought  nor  sold,  may,  unless  prevented  by  prior 
claims,  become  one  of  our  beys. 

"  But  a  concurrence  of  circumstances  has  nearly  effected 
wliat  no  law  ever  expressly  decreed.  Accoiding  to  oiU' 
customs,  the  prolific  period  of  youth  is  spent  by  themam- 
luke  under  his  patron's  roof  in  forced  singleness,  and  in 
the  society  of  none  but  his  fellow-soldiers.  His  consti- 
tution, more  liable  to  the  enervating  tendency  of  the 
clnnate  in  proportion  as  it  derives  from  its  more  bracing 
native  atmosphere  a  greater  natural  fulness  and  succu- 
lence, is  weakened,  perhajjs  his  very  imagination  receives 
a  fatal  bias,  ere  manumission  allows  him  to  quit  his 
master's  house,  and  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  the  conim- 
bial  state.  iS'o  sooner  indeed  is  he  gifted  with  freedom 
than  he  seeks  a  wifi',  were  it  only  to  acquire  in  the  sa- 
credness  of  the  harem  a  security  for  his  person,  and  a 
sanctuary  for  liis  property ;  but  even  on  this  occasion  his 
pride  and  his  prejulice  lead  him  to  spurn  from  his  em- 
brace the  women  of  the  country,  whose  seasoned  consti- 
tution miglit  counteract  the  effects  of  his  debilitated  sys- 
tem, and  permit  him  only  to  form  an  alliance  with  some 
female  slave  of  his  own  nation,  on  whom  the  climate  of 
Egypt  exerts  the  same  enervating  influence.  Seldom 
does  any  progeny  aiise  from  these  too  well-assorted 
marriages;  or  if  blessed  vvith  offspring,  and  such  as 
attains  maturity,  it  is  in  general  too  degenerate  in  body, 
and  too  iinb<'(;ile  in  mind,  to  hold  and  to  defend  the  pa- 
rental authority  against  a  host  of  sturdier  competitors : 
and  for  want  of  a  sufficiency  of  natural  heirs  to  succeed 
to  their  [)ossessions  and  their  power,  the  rulers  of  Egypt 
have,  tliroughoiit  every  period  of  their  history,  been 
obliged  to  seek  in  fresii  slaves  imported  from  their  own 
native  realms,  the  heirs  to  their  wealth,  and  the  succes- 
sors to  th(;ir  dominion. 

"  Among  thesff  creatures  of  servitude  and  devotees  to 
ambition,  the  Abases,  th(;  Tcherkassians,  and  the  youths 
of  Odeslie  aufi  of  Gurgistan,*  are  in  general  the  most 
esteemed,  as  being  the  nearest  in  blood  to  their  patrons, 
and  the  most  eminent  in  corporeal  endowments  and  war- 
like accomplishments.  Henegadoes  themselves,  their 
masters  make  it  a  rule,  more  in  compliance  vvith  custom 
than  out  of  respect  for  religion,  to  raise  no  servant  to 
any  employment  who  is  not  by  birth  or  from  choice  a 

•  Gur  gisfdii-  Gorgia. 


ANASTASIUS.  189 

Mohammedan.  But  this  condition  fulfilled,  whatever 
native  of  any  country  north  of  Egypt  is  willing  to  owe 
his  whole  existence  and  advancement  to  his  patron,  may 
aspire  to  all  the  advantages  an  Egyptian  grandee  can 
bestow.  The  bey  connects  with  the  artificial  relation- 
ship between  master  and  slave  all  the  reciprocal  duties, 
nay,  attaches  to  it  all  the  reciprocal  appellations,  that 
belong  to  the  natural  ties  of  which  he  lives  bereft ;  he 
calls  his  mamlukes  his  children,  and  hears  them  call  him 
their  father :  according  to  the  measure  of  their  attach- 
ment, their  deserts,  or  their  favour  in  his  eyes,  he  pro- 
motes them  successively,  while  yet  in  bondage,  to  all 
the  honourable  offices  in  his  own  household,  from  that 
of  simple  body-guard,  to  that  of  hasnador  or  treasurer; 
and,  when  manumitted,  to  all  the  dignities  in  the  state  at 
his  disposal,  from  that  of  single  aga,  to  that  of  kiachef,* 
and  bey,  and  schaich-el-belled.  JDuring  his  lifetime  he 
marries  them  to  whatever  female  relations  of  his  own  he 
can  find ;  and  at  his  death  he  leaves  them  heirs  to  his 
wealth  and  his  offices.  So  much  are  these  adoptive 
cliildren  considered  as  the  natural  heirs  to  all  their 
patron's  property,  that  his  very  wives,  and  sisters,  and 
daughters  devolve  to  them,  according  to  the  date  of  their 
creation  and  the  eminence  of  their  rank:  and  the  greater 
number  of  such  creatures,  devoted  to  his  service,  defend- 
ing his  person,  devouring  his  property,  and  raised  by  his 
patronage  to  wealth  and  to  dignities  a  man  in  power  pos- 
sesses, the  more  the  reflected  lustre  of  these  satellites 
that  move  around  him,  swells  his  own  pride,  increases 
his  own  importance,  and  extends  his  own  sway.  It  is  by 
the  vast  circumference  of  the  base  that  beholders  may 
in  some  measure  estimate  the  altitude  of  the  mountain's 
summit. 

"  Such  is  in  Egypt  the  inertness  of  the  native,  and  such 
the  insulation  of  the  couutiy,  encompassed  on  all  sides 
l)y  seas  or  by  deserts,  that  the  domination  of  the  beys, 
though  only  "continued  by  slaves,  by  renegadoes,  and  by 
strangers— by  men  forswearing  every  tie  of  countrj',  of 
blood,  of  sex,  and  of  religion,  and  offering  every  form  of 
anarchy,  civil  war,  and  murder  by  steel  and  by  poison — 
yet  subsisted  near  two  centuries  without  being  wrested 
from  the  feeble  hands  that  held  it,  cither  by  an  indigenous 
subject,  or  by  a  foreign  invader. 

*  Kiachef— an  officer  commanding  part  of  a  province  under  a  bey,  though, 
like  the  title  of  boy,  that  of  kiachef  is  often  merely  honorary. 


190  AXASTASIUS, 

"At  last,  liowever,  the  sway  of  tlie  mamlukes  received 
a  check.  In  the  year  923  of  the  Heg-yra,  Selim,  sultan 
of  the  Turks,  conquered  Egj'pt,  and  rendered  it  a  province 
subject  to  a  pasha.  The  ta>k  of  levying  the  yearly  con- 
tribution imposed  upon  the  land,  partly  to  defray  the  in- 
ternal administration,  and  partly  to  fill  the  conqueror's 
coffers,  was  the  only  office  left  to  the  beys  and  to  the 
kiachefs  einployed  by  them  for  that  purpose;  and  for  the 
performance  of  this  task  the  president  of  the  beys  of 
Upper  E,?ypt  stationed  at  Djirdge,  and  the  schaich-el- 
belled,  or  chief  of  the  whole  corps  residing  at  Cairo, 
were  held  responsible.  To  enforce  his  edicts  and  to 
defend  his  conquest,  Selim  instituted  in  Egypt  several 
odgiaks,  or  corps  of  provincial  militia,  of  which  the 
heads  and  the  larger  division  were  quartered  in  the  cita- 
del of  Cairo,  to  defend  the  pasha,  and  smaller  detachiivents 
were  stationed  at  Djirdge,  in  the  Said,  to  execute  his 
orders. 

"  Of  these  coi-ps,  the  two  principal  were  those  of  the 
janissaries  and  of  the  azabs.  Each  had  its  divan,  or 
council,  in  which  the  chief,  or  kehaya,  and  the  officers, 
or  odgiaklees,  discussed  the  interests  of  the  corps.  But 
this  continued  not  long  their  only  care.  By  degrees 
these  chiefs,  stationary  in  the  rountry,  and  commanding 
a  formidable  force,  began  to  resist  the  orders  of  a  pasha, 
liable  to  constant  removals,  and  the  bearer  of  unsupported 
mandates.  Assuming  all  the  substance  of  power  to 
themselves,  they  only  left  in  the  hands  of  the  vizier  the 
shadow  of  authority.  They  einployed  Iiim  to  sanction 
with  the  sultan's  irame  the  statutes  decreed  in  their  private 
divans,  WJiile  the  pasha  remained  in  Egypt,  they  kept 
him  a  close  prisoner  in  the  castle,  and  when  they  grew 
tired  of  his  presence,  they  dismissed  him  at  their  plea- 
sure. They  treated  the  bf;ys,  (;mploj'ed  by  the  sovereign 
to  levy  the  territorial  contributions,  as  their  own  sub- 
jects, in  so  far  as  to  make  the  schaich-el-belled,  on  days 
of  ceremony,  hold  the  stirrup  to  the  aga  of  the  janissa- 
ries :  and  the  subjects  at  large  they  oppressed  so  lieavily, 
that  the  natives  could  only  escape  their  rapacity  by  en- 
listing in  their  corps.  In  proportion,  however,  as  the 
candidate  for  the  privileges  of  the  militia  was  wealthier, 
and  thus  exposed  to  greater  extortions,  the  immunity 
which  he  more  urgently  sought  he  with  more  difficulty 
obtained.  One  lialf  of  his  fortune  was,  in  general,  the 
price  of  his  security  during  his  life,  and  at  his  death,  the 


AXASTASIUS.  191 

Other  half  devolved  to  the  corps  in  whose  lists  his  name 
was  enrolled :  nor  if  a  rich  individual  had  by  some  means 
succeeded  while  he  lived  in  eluding  the  burthensome 
boon,  could  his  good  fortune  while  he  breathed  avail  his 
heirs  on  his  demise.  In  defect  of  a  real  engagement,  a 
forged  one  was  soon  provided,  and  promptly  acted  upon ; 
and  to  such  an  extent  was  carried  this  abuse,  that  no  ex- 
ternal control  seemed  any  longer  able  to  prevent  the 
militia  of  Egypt  from  swallowing  up  the  whole  substance 
of  the  country :  when  the  very  excess  of  the  evil  pro- 
duced the  cure,  and  tlie  internal  weakness,  disease,  and 
torpor — effects  of  tlieir  unbounded  voracity  and  repletion 
— again  forced  the  odgiaklees  to  yield  up  the  fruits  of 
their  usurpation.  Just  as,  when  arrived  at  its  utmost 
height,  you  see  the  Nile — " 

At  tliis  impending  episode  I  took  fright,  put  my  finger 
on  the  narrator's  lips,  earnestly  begged  to  have  no  similes, 
especially  about  the  Nile,  and  entreated  him  only  to  con- 
tinue his  straight-forward  narration. 

He  smiled,  and  thus  proceeded.  "  Selim  had  ordained 
that  the  troops  should  remain  in  the  citadels.  They 
were  neither  to  exercise  any  trade  or  to  possess  any  land, 
lest  their  diffusion  over  the  country  should  diminish  their 
strength,  and  pacific  pursuits  should  destroy  their  martial 
spirit ;  but  their  rapacity  had  caused  these  regulations 
to  be  disregarded.  On  the  one  hand,  every  peaceful  arti- 
zan,  however  unable  to  wield  a  musket,  was  nominally 
enrolled,  for  the  sake  of  his  admission  fee,  in  the  militia, 
without  doing  any  duty  or  receiving  any  pay,  and  on  the 
other,  the  number  of  effective  soldiers  able  to  do  duty 
and  entitled  to  pay  was  every  day  left  more  defective,  in 
order  that  the  ofhccrs  might  appropriate  their  unclaimed 
stipend.  Thus  the  disposable  force  of  the  countrj',  in 
proportion  as  it  nominally  increased  on  the  regimental 
lists,  in  reality  dwindled  away  more  rapidly  in  the  field ; 
and  the  army  became  a  body  bloated  with  superfluous 
saps,  while  bereft  of  requisite  stamina  and  vigour.  The 
cupidity  of  the  odgiaklees  made  them  by  degrees  retain 
not  only  all  the  personal  property,  but  all  the  land  tliey 
could  grasp.  By  these  means  the  members  of  the  mihtia 
bec;ame  accountable  for  that  territorial  imposition  of 
which  their  corps  had  been  destined  to  enforce  tlie  pay- 
ment, and  at  the  very  epoch  when  their  diminished 
strength  made  them  less  able  to  bring  the  beys  before 
their  tribunal,  their  increased  tenitorial  possessions  ren- 


192  ANASTASIUS. 

dered  them  more  answerable  before  the  tribunal  of  the 
beys.  The  situation  of  these  farmers  of  the  pubhc 
revenue,  which  erst  the  soldiery  had  despised,  they  now 
began  to  respect.  The  distinct  and  opposite  offices  and 
powers  intended  bj'^  Sehm  to  check  each  other  thus 
became  blended,  the  balance  lost,  and  the  state  plunged 
into  utter  confusion.  While  formerly  the  odgiaklees 
had  conferred  on  their  creatures  and  dependants  the  dig- 
nities of  beys,  beys  now  gave  to  their  adherents  and 
^reedmen  the  places  of  odgiaklees.  No  longer  submit- 
ting to  the  confinement  of  their  provinces,  all  these  beys 
now  left  their  kiachefs  to  grind  their  districts,  and  flocked 
to  Cairo,  to  make  the  capital  the  scene  of  their  cabals. 
The  public  revenue,  before  squandered  by  the  odgiaklees, 
now  became  wasted  by  the  beys ;  and  whatever  military 
force  remained  was  employed  not  to  resist  but  to  protect 
their  usurpation.  Tlie  spider  now  wove  its  cobwebs  in 
silence  over  those  superb  chambers  which  had  resounded 
with  the  fierce  discussions  of  the  janissaries  and  azabs  ; 
and  the  pasha,  wIjo  formerly  had  only  feared  the  power 
of  the  militia,  now  trembled  at  the  name  of  the  beys. 
Meanwhile,  the  mamlukes,  that  indestructible  plague  of 
Egypt,  that  weed  which  amid  its  neglected  fertility 
ever  springs  up  anew,  had  continued  to  offer,  as  before, 
its  unceasing  renovation;  and  as  the  character  of  the 
soldier,  promoted  by  his  sovereign,  sunk,  that  of  the 
slave,  raised  by  his  private  master,  again  rose  in  the  public 
estimation. 

"  The  bey  who  singly  attained  the  greatest  power  was 
Aly,  by  birth  a  Georgian.  Called  to  the  office  of  schaich- 
el-belled,  he  not  only  reduced  to  a  cipher  the  odgiaklees, 
but  completely  silenced  his  very  colleagues,  and  reserved 
every  dignity  for  his  own  favourite  mamlukes,  Moham- 
med, Ismail,  and  Hassan.  Carrying  his  audacity  so  far 
as  at  last  even  to  reuouiK^e  his  allegiance  to  the  Porte,  he 
contracted  an  alliance  with  its  enemies  the  Russians,  and 
sent  his  adoptive  son  Hassan  to  sack  the  city  of  Djedda 
on  the  Arabian  coast.  His  tide  of  prosperity  was 
stemmed  l)y  liis  other  son,  Mohammed.  This  mamluke, 
whom  Aly  iiad  honoured  witli  the  hand  of  his  own  sister 
— sent  for  purposely  from  Gurgistan,  whom  he  had  loaded 
with  such  wealth  as  to  confer  on  him  the  surname  of 
Abou-daliab  or  the  father  of  gold,  and  had  endowed 
with  such  power  as  to  enable  him  to  make  his  own 
dependants  beys,  finding  at  last  that  he  could  rise  no 


ANASTASIUS.  I0\i 

higher  except  by  the  fall  of  his  benefactor,  slew  him 
in  1776. 

"  Every  earthly  blessing  seemed  to  crown  Abou-dahab's 
crime.  Nominated  by  the  beys  of  his  own  creation  to 
the  dignity  of  schaich-el-belled,  and  elevated  by  the 
sultan  to  the  post  of  pasha,  he  offered  the  first  example 
in  Egy[)t,  as  he  did  the  last,  of  all  the  grandeur  the  coun- 
try can  bestow,  and  all  the  authority  the  Porte  can  give, 
united  in  the  same  person.  .  Intoxicated  unto  madness 
by  these  long  draughts  of  successful  ambition,  his  blood 
began  to  ferment,  his  fluids  turned  to  poison,  a  raging 
fever  struck  his  brain ;  and  the  conqueror  whom  Acre  one 
day  saw  resplendent  with  glory  she  beheld  the  next  day 
a  mass  of  corruption. 

"  No  sooner  had  Abou-dahab  breathed  his  last  than  his 
mamlukes  hastened  back  to  Cairo  to  divide  his  spoil. 
Ibrahim,  the  eldest  bey  of  his  creation,  obtained,  with  the 
place  of  schaich-el-belled,  the  widow  of  Aly.  Mourad, 
the  second  in  rank  of  the  beys  named  by  Mohammed, 
manied  Ins  own  relict.  The  other  beys  of  Mohammed's 
recent  house,  Osman,  Mustapha,  Suleiman,  and  the  two 
Ayoobs,  took,  according  to  their  rank  and  seniority,  what 
else  remained  to  be  divided. 

"  The  younger  children  of  Mohammed's  ill-requited 
patron,  Ismail  and  Hassan,  who  shared  not  in  their  eldest, 
brother's  ingratitude,  had,  on  Aly's  death,  fled  to  upper 
Egypt.  There  they  remained  quiet  during  the  short 
period  of  Abou-dahab's  reign  ;  but  gained  strength  by  an 
alliance  with  two  great  Arab  schaichs,  those  of  Esneh  and 
of  Negaddi.  Thus  reinforced,  they  determined  not  to 
suffer  Mohammed's  children  to  supersede  the  remaining 
sons  of  Aly  himself,  and  marched  directly  to  Cairo. 
Ibrahim,  Mourad,  and  their  party  had  not  yet  had  leisure 
to  prepare  for  the  attack.  With  all  their  followers  they 
passed  through  the  citadel,  situated  on  tlie  utmost  verge 
of  the  mount  Mokhadem ;  gained  the  defiles  of  that  range 
of  mountains  which  extends  along  the  right  bank  of  the 
Nile  all  the  way  to  upper  Egypt,  and  there  took  that  sta- 
tion which  their  antagonist  had  just  quitted  to  occupy 
their  own  at  Cairo. 

"  Ismail,  received  in  the  capital  witli  acclamation,  and 
immediately  installed  as  schaich-el-belled,  by  a  paslia,  no 
longer  of  any  use  but  to  confer  the  investiture  of  that  place 
on  whosoever  was  strong  enough  to  seize  its  prerogatives, 
lost  no  time  in  clearing  his  residence  of  alllurkhig  leavtii 

Vol.  I.— I 


194  ANASTASIUS. 

of  sedition.  Two  old  beys  still  existed,  owned  by  no 
party  in  being,  but  supposed  secretly  to  favour  that  of 
Ibrahim.  Yet  had  they,  when  Ismail  entered  Cairo, 
remained  in  tlie  capital ;  either  prevented  from  quitting 
it  by  their  infirmities,  or  relying  for  protection  on  their 
age.  They  were  friends,  and  saw  each  other  familiarly. 
But  when  Sogei  came  to  pay  his  court,  Ismail  exacted, 
in  proof  of  his  loyalty,  the  head  of  Abderahman ;  and 
Sogei  bowed  submission.  In  the  midst  of  the  customary 
reminiscences  which  formed  the  conversation  of  men 
who  had  outlived  all  their  contemporaries,  Sogei  dropped 
his  chaplet.  Abderahman  stooped  to  pick  it  up,  and  Sogei 
plunged  his  dagger  into  his  colleague's  side.  His  feeble 
hand,  however,  could  not  give  a  home  tlirust,  and  Abder- 
haman,  intended  to  be  laid  prostrate  for  ever,  rose  from 
the  blow,  and  struggled  with  his  adversary.  The  sur- 
rounding mamlukes  viewed  unmoved  two  men,  seemingly 
united  in  the  closest  friendship  until  both  were  grown 
gray  with  age,  contend  which  should  first  bereave  the 
other  by  violence  of  the  few  remaining  sparks  of  a  life 
almost  extinct — should  first  draw  from  the  other's  heart 
the  few  remaining  drops  of  a  tide  almost  stagnant  in  their 
veins,  and  should  first  push  the  other  into  that  grave  on 
whose  brink  both  were  already  tottering.  This  feat  Sogei 
achieved.  He  then  crawled  back  to  the  schaich  with  the 
head  demai^ded  ;  but,  exhausted  with  the  fight,  fell  dead 
in  the  act  oi  presenting  the  prize. 

"  Ibrahim  and  Mourad  remained  not  much  longer  in 
upper  Eg3^pt  than  Ismail  and  Hassan  had  done  before 
them.  With  the  assistance  of  the  Arab  schaichs  of  Far- 
shout  and  of  Dendera,  they  descended  from  Djirdge, 
and  demanded  readmittance  in  Cairo.  Ismail  consented, 
in  hopes  of  more  effectually  ending  tlie  struggle  by 
treachery.  With  the  concurrence  of  Ezedlee,  the  pasha, 
Ws  antagonists  were  to  be  murdered  in  the  citadel  in  full 
divan.  Hassan,  however,  dissatisfied  with  the  small 
.share  of  power  ceded  him  by  Ismail,  thought  he  now  had 
the  means  for  ever  to  secure  the  gratitude  of  the  adverse 
party.  He  warned  its  loaders  of  the  plot;  and  the  same 
night  Ibrahim  and  Mourad,  with  all  tlieir  adherents,  again 
evacuated  Cairo.  As  soon  as  they  had  passed  the  gates, 
they  proclaimed  all  reconciliation  with  Ismail  henceforth 
at  an  end,  and  went  back  to  their  old  post  at  Djirdge. 
Here  they  fortified  themselves,  and  determined  to  reduce 
the  capital  by  famine.     All  provisions  which  descended 


ANASTASIUS.  195 

the  Nile  were  intercepterl ;  and  Ismail  at  last  found  him- 
self obliged  by  the  impending  scarcity  to  collect  his  few 
troops,  and  to  march  soutliward,  in  hopes  of  dislodging 
his  foes  from  a  place  fraught  with  such  powers  of  annoy- 
Hnce.  Ibrahim  and  Mourad  awaited  him  in  battle  arraj' 
under  the  walls  of  Djirdge.  Alreadjs  with  forces  nearly 
equal  and  a  doubtful  issue,  had  the  combat  begun,  when 
Hassan,  whose  followers  formed  the  chief  strength  of 
Ismail's  army,  with  all  his  troops,  passed  over  to  the 
enemy.  Ismail  now  became  certain  of  defeat.  The 
signal  of  retreat  was  sounded,  and  he  fled  back  to 
Cairo. 

"  The  schaich-el-belled's  popularity  in  the  capital  had 
been  annihilated  by  his  exactions.  Closely  pursued,  he 
felt  his  situation  desperate.  In  haste  he  loaded  his 
camels  with  his  treasure,  abandoned  his  honours,  and 
crossed  the  desert  as  a  fugitive.  At  Gaze  he  embarked 
for  Stambool,  to  seek  assistance  from  the  Porte. 

"  As  Ismail  went  out  at  one  gate  of  the  city,  Ibrahim  and 
Mourad  rushed  in  at  the  other.  Content  to  resume  their 
former  station,  they  impeded  not  their  enemy's  llight. 
After  reinstating  themselves  in  all  their  offices,  they 
strengthened  their  party  and  rewarded  their  adherents 
by  making  a  considerable  promotion  of  beys  and  of 
kiachefs. 

"  Hassan  himself  gained  the  least  by  his  defection.  This 
bey,  surnamed  Djeddawee  from  the  sacking  of  that  city, 
was  among  those  unfortunate  individuals  who,  with  the 
greatest  physical  bravery,  entirely  want  moral  resolution 
and  steadiness ;  by  their  waverings  and  changes  forfeit 
the  confidence  of  all  parties,  and  to  every  faction  alike 
appear  more  desirable  in  the  character  of  avowed  enemies, 
than  in  that  of  seeming  friends.  Whatever  sacrifices  he 
might  make  to  the  cause  he  espoused,  they  were  uni- 
formly attributed  to  interested  motives;  truth  from  his 
lips  was  received  as  falsehood;  and  generosity  in  his 
behaviour  could  only  be  viewed  as  cuiming.  The  bare 
circumstance  of  his  asserting  a  fact  caused  it  to  be  dis- 
credited, and  his  being  the  author  of  a  scheme  sufficed 
for  its  rejection.  Thus  situated,  he  always  found  the 
thanks  of  his  associates  short  of  his  pretensions,  failed 
not  soon  to  accuse  his  colleagues  of  black  ingratitude, 
and  scarce  had  joined  a  party  when  he  afresh  meditated 
a  change.  His  most  ordinary  converse  necessarily  de- 
generated into  a  tissue  of  dissimulation  and  fraud,  which 
I  2 


196  ANASTASrcS. 

produced  no  illusion ;  and  his  life  became  a  series  of 
intrigues  and  of  cabals,  which  brought  him  no  benefit. 

"  Tired  of  his  complaints,  and  fearing  his  fickleness,  the 
sons  of  Mohammed  resolved  to  stop  his  reproaches  by 
cutting  short  his  career.  The  Saturday  exercises  in  the 
place  of  Roumailli  were  fixed  upon  to  execute  the  purpose. 

"  The  exercise  of  the  djereed  was  over.  One  of  Mou- 
rad's  mamlukes  enters  the  lists  for  the  game  of  the  jar.* 
He  advances  in  tlie  circle,  takes  aim,  fires,  and  misses. 
A  second  darts  forward,  and  equally  fails.  A  third  now 
tries  in  his  turn  :  his  ball  goes  wider  still  than  the  former 
from  the  pretended  mark;  but  it  strikes  the  real  one,  for 
it  grazes  the  turban  of  Djeddawee.  Every  bystander 
loudly  laments  the  accident.  The  bey  alone  saw  the 
intent :  he  saw  his  death-warrant  signed.  Immediately 
he  calls  round  him  his  mamlukes,  and  from  their  close 
pressed  cnrcle  raises  the  cry  of  war,  and  the  sword  of  defi- 
ance. His  suite  all  draw  their  sabres :  so  do  Mohammed's 
children.  The  games  cease ;  the  fight  commences :  the  few 
remainingadherentsof  Ismail  join  the  banners  of  Hassan. 

"  Three  entire  days  did  every  street  of  Cairo  in  turns 
become  tlie  field  of  battle.  Three  entire  days  did  every 
stone  of  tlie  capital  in  turns  stream  with  blood.  At  last 
Hassan  fell  his  strength  give  way,  and  saw  his  supporters 
fall  oft",  one  by  one.  On  the  point  of  being  overwhelmed 
by  his  enem3-'s  superior  force,  he  gathers  together  a  small 
troop  whicli  lie  still  could  rely  upon,  and  breaks  through 
the  very  midst  of  his  assailants.  With  a  speed  which 
nothing  could  slacken,  he  gains  the  vast  suburb  of  Boolak, 
on  the  Nile,  and  there  seeks  shelter  in  the  house  of  an 
old  friend — of  the  schaich  Uamanhoori.  The  sanctity 
even  of  that  distant  asylum  is  disregarded,  and  the  ap- 
proach invested,  a  few  minutes  after  its  gates  had  received 
the  noble  fugitive. 

"  For  a  while,  however,  intrenching  himself  behind  the 
enclosure  of  his  fortress,  Hassan  gallaiUly  stands  the 
siege;  from  every  window  and  battlement  of  the  edifice 
pours  down  upon  Mourad's  satellites  every  species  of 
murderous  implement,  and  makes  many  a  foe  atone 
with  his  life  for  the  relentless  pursuit.  But  after  more 
than  an  hour's  strenuous  defence,  he  beholds  from  the 
top  of  the  building  the  door  burst  open,  and  the  entire 
hostile  torrent  rush  in  at  once.     He  now  resolves  to  quit 

*  The  jar— an  earthen  veHsel,  which,  ia  one  of  tlieir  martial  sports,  the 
mamlukea  try  to  bit. 


ANASTASIUS.  197 

the  hopeless  contest,  and  to  save  himself  by  flight. 
Mounting  on  the  terrace  of  the  mansion,  now  no  longer 
secure,  he  thence  clambers  on  the  roof  of  a  neighbouring 
house.  From  tliat  passes  on  to  the  next,  and  in  this 
manner  vaults  from  terrace  to  terrace,*  and  climbs  from 
roof  to  roof;  sometimes  scahng  almost  inaccessible 
heights,  at  others  leaping  down  awful  precipices,  and  at 
others  again  clearing  frightful  chasms :  until  at  last  he 
gains  the  furthermost  of  the  habitations  that  form  a  con- 
nected cluster.  Here  he  finds  his  aerial  progress  stopped ; 
and  from  the  summit  of  this  final  promontory  again  is 
compelled  to  descend  to  the  regions  below,  and  to  return 
to  the  level  of  his  pursuers.  From  the  terrace  he  lets  him- 
self down  into  the  attics  ;  from  these  into  a  lower  floor; 
gains  the  top  of  the  stairs,  runs  down  a  hundred  steps, 
reaches  the  hall,  and  opens  the  entrance-door.  In  the 
very  porch  stood  sentinel  a  hostile  mamluke  of  gigantic 
stature,  waiting  his  arrival  to  intercept  his  passage.  Him 
he  fells  with  his  sabre  at  a  single  blow,  and  mounting  the 
mamluke's  own  steed,  he  rides  back  at  full  speed  to  Cairo. 
But  at  every  turn  his  antagonists  were  watching.  They 
soon  espy  his  escape :  and  in  a  moment  he  heard  the 
■whole  troop  again  close  at  his  heels.  Danger  seemed  to 
lend  him  wings.  He  reaches  Cairo  the  first;  though 
scarce  by  the  distance  of  a  pistol-shot.  Clearing  the 
-crowded  entrance  of  the  city,  and  pushing  up  the  main 
street,  he  rushes,  as  soon  as  opportunity  favours,  into 
the  midst  of  the  most  populous  and  busy  district ;  runs  up 
one  narrow  lane  and  down  another.  As  he  enters  a  new 
<livision,  he  causes  its  gates  to  be  shut  behind  him,  in 
order  to  delay  the  progress  of  his  pursuers.  Meeting  a 
string  of  camels  carrying  water,  he  rends  open  the  skins 
with  liis  dagger,  to  increase  the  slippery  smoothness  of 
the  pavemenl.  Coming  up  with  a  file  of  Arabas,  convey- 
hig  a  wedding,  he  tilts  over  the  wagons  to  bar  the  pas- 
sage. No  throng  of  human  beings,  however  great,  stops 
his  career.  His  yatagan  cuts  its  way  through  the  thickest 
cluster  of  passengers.  Overthrowing  some,  trampling 
others  under  foot,  he  still  advances  unslackened  in  his 
speed-  P>very  where  warning  shouts  announce  his  ap- 
j)roach;  every  where  screams  of  terror  precede  his  rapid 
steps.    At  sight  of  him  the  horror-struck  mob  flies  in 

*  From  terrace  to  terrace— the  houses  at  Cairo  are  all  flat  roofed  ;  and  each 
peculiar  district  of  the  city  is  separated  irum  the  neighbouring  ones  :  y  its  par- 
ticular gate,  which  is  kept  shut  at  night. 


198  ANASTASIUS. 

every  direction  like  chaff  before  the  hurricane  :  and  his 
M'ide  circuit  frequently  bringing  him  back  to  the  same 
places  he  had  appeared  in  before — but  each  time  more 
pale  and  ghastly  and  covered  with  blood  than  before — he 
at  last  begins  to  be  viewed  as  his  own  ghost,  still  con- 
tinuing the  flight  of  the  body.  It  was  a  stupendous  thing 
to  behold  a  vast  capital,  successively  filled  throughout 
each  of  its  numerous  quartrri*,  from  one  end  to  the  other, 
with  ever  increasing  terror  and  dismay  by  the  appearance 
of  a  single  man,  and  that  man  himself  a  fugitive,  only 
darting  by  like  a  meteor— just  heard,  just  seen,  and  then 
again  disappearing. 

"  Hassan's  strength  now  begins  to  fail  him,  His  horsP' 
is  ready  to  drop.  His  pursuers,  who  for  a  while  had  lost 
his  track — guided  by  the  clamour  of  the  mob  at  his  ap- 
pearance— again  recover  the  scent.  They  gain  ground 
upon  him  so  fast,  nothing  seems  capable  any  longer  of 
saving  him  from  becoming  their  victim. 

"  He  now  bethinks  himself  of  one  last  desperate  expe- 
dient. The  house  of  his  most  inveterate  enemy — of  Ibra- 
him, the  schaich-el-belled — had  just  risen  in  sight.  He 
springs  from  his  exhausted  steed,  no  longer  able  to  move, 
and  summoning  all  his  remaining  strength,  runs  to  this 
perilous  abode,  and  gains  with  difficulty  its  portal.  En- 
tering the  frowning  gates,  he  forces  his  way  athwart  the 
bevy  of  astonished  pages,  who  in  vain  try  to  stop  the 
intruder,  and  makes  straight  for  the  holy  of  holies,  for  the 
women's  apartment.  Pushing  away  right  and  left  the 
eunuchs,  the  slaves,  and  the  guards  stationed  to  defend 
the  entrance  of  the  gynecncum,  he  bursts  open  the  prohib- 
ited door,  advances  through  the  labyrinth  of  narrow  pas- 
sages, and  at  last,  after  many  wanderings,  reaches  the 
very  centre  of  the  awfid  sanctuary. 

"  Here,  totally  exhausted,  and  faint  with  fatigue  and  loss 
of  blood  from  many  a  wound  inflicted  by  a  distant  car- 
f.'ine,  Djeddawee  at  last  stops,  lays  dow^n  on  the  rich 
carpet  his  naked  ensanguined  sword ;  and  viewing  before 
him  that  mightiest  of  her  sex,  the  sister  of  Aly,  the  widow 
of  Mohammed,  and  the  wife  of  Ibrahim — risen  from  her 
seat  in  mute  astonishment — he  throws  himself  prostrate 
at  her  feet,  clasps  the  hem  of  her  embroidered  garment, 
and  implores  her  all-powerful  protection. 

"What  could  Ashtur  do?  when  a  son  of  her  brother, 
and  a  brother  of  her  first  husband,  humbled  to  the  dust, 
implored  her  to  save  his  life  I 


ANASTASIUS.  199 

"  She  swore  to  protect  him  while  he  remained  in  her 
sight ;  and  in  her  presence  none  durst  hft  his  hand  against 
the  supphcant.  Even  Ibrahim  her  husband  consented  to 
respect  his  hated  existence,  until  he  again  should  go  forth 
from  the  shadow  of  his  roof. 

"  But  Mourad  appears  !  Furious  from  his  numerous  dis- 
appointments, and  Hassan's  hair-breadth  escapes,  he  de- 
mands possession  of  his  victim,  or  threatens  to  abandon 
his  party.  The  schaicli-el-belled  wavers,  and  at  last 
consents  to  cast  a  stain  upon  his  character,  in  order  tu 
satisfy  his  colleague.  In  defiance  of  the  laws  of  hospi- 
tality, he  insists  on  Hassan's  quitting  his  habitation,  con- 
tent to  receive  a  safeguard  to  the  frontiers  of  Egypt.  The 
bey  was  not  in  a  condition  to  decline  the  specious  offer. 
Accompanied  by  a  numerous  escort,  he  takes  leave  and 
<leparts.  But  what  is  his  new  dismay,  w'hen  lie  learns  on 
the  road  that  his  destination  is  the  very  town  in  Arabia 
once  the  scene  of  his  devastations !  To  turn  him  adrift 
among  the  injured  populace  of  Djedda  was  to  devote  him 
to  a  death  more  cruel  than  the  fate  he  had  fled  from.  Oa 
the  least  resistance,  however,  to  the  mandate  of  his  ene- 
mies, he  was  to  be  killed  oa  the  spot.  He  therefore 
feigned  acquiescence,  and  sutfered  himself  quietly  to  be 
conveyed  to  Suez,  and  there  to  be  embarked  for  the  har- 
bour of  Meccah.  At  sea  he  might  by  surprise  have  slain 
a  few  of  his  conductors,  but  iu  so  rash  an  attempt  he 
must  soon  have  been  overpowered  by  the  rest.  He  de- 
vised a  better  plan.  In  the  darkness  of  the  night  he  fell 
upon  the  reis  himself,  the  moment  sleep  closed  his  eye- 
lids; aJid  witii  his  arm  round  the  pilot's  throat  and  his 
pistol  to  his  heart,  he  forced  him  to  steer  for  the  African 
coast,  and  for  the  [)ort  of  Cossier.  There,  under  favour 
of  a  mob  whom  the  cry  of  a  son  of  Aly  soon  collected 
round  the  boat  ready  foj  his  defence,  he  disemi)arked,  by 
forced  marches  gained  Akmim,  and  from  that  place 
plunged  into  the  desert.  In  a  few  days  he  reached  the 
tents  of  his  former  Arab  allies.  Under  their  wing  he  took 
shelter :  the  fame  of  his  wonderful  escape  spread  in  all 
directions'. — at  last  it  reached  Cairo,  and  the  wreck  of  his 
party  remaining  in  that  capital  insensibly  withdrew,  and 
joined  its  imperishable  leader. 

"  Ismail,  on  his  arrival  at  Constantinople,  had  found  the 
Porte  loo  deeply  engaged  in  war  with  Austria  to  involve 
itself  in  fresh  hostilities  with  Egypt.  Tired  of  consuming 
his  time  in  fruitless  expectation,  and  his  wealth  in  unpro- 
ductive bribes,  he  at  last  reimbarked,  lauded  at  Dern6, 


200  ANASTASIUS. 

and  through  the  oasis  of  Sewa,  rejoined  Hassan  near  the 
cataracts.  Either  chief  had  gained  too  little  by  deserting 
the  other  not  to  meet  his  former  rival  half-way.  Com- 
mon disappointment  for  this  time  riveted  the  union  of  the 
beys.  They  agreed  to  assign  to  oblivion  the  past,  and 
for  the  future  never  more  to  abandon  each  other. 

"  Thus  far,"  added  my  Osmanlee, "  the  engagement  has 
remained  inviolate.  Three  years  and  more  the  sturdy 
veterans  have  continued  to  live  together  in  undisturbed 
possession  of  Es-souan,  the  fartliest  place  in  the  Said  on 
this  side  the  falls.  Too  weak  to  molest  the  chiefs  at 
Cairo,  and  too  near  the  confines  of  Nubia  to  fear  their 
molestation,  they  are  watched,  but  are  left  quiet.  All 
the  land  on  either  side  the  river,  their  small  district  ex- 
cepted, obeys  Ibrahim  and  Mourad.  These  chiefs  reign 
uncontrolled  at  Cairo,  and  heavy  is  the  yoke  which  they 
impose  upon  the  provinces.  But  it  bears  alike  on  every 
one,  and  therefore  appears  less  galling  than  the  partial 
miseries  of  civil  war.  People  pray  for  an  oppression 
which  prevents  their  being  torn  limb  from  limb,  in  the 
strife  of  contending  parties." 

Here  ended  the  long  narration  of  my  CaVreen  friend ; 
or  rather  here  end  the  events  he  undertook  to  relate. 
Almost  the  same  moment  concluded  his  recital  and  our 
voyage.  Already  rose  in  sight  the  vast  pyramids  to  the 
right,  and  the  castle  of  Cairo  on  our  left.  Each  pas- 
senger began  to  collect  his  parcels:  and  scarce  half  an 
hour  more  elapsed,  ere  we  cast  anchor  at  Boolak,  and 
stepped  ashore.  Our  little  party  broke  up,  and  every  one 
of  its  members  went  his  different  way.  My  new  friend 
and  myself  walked  on  together  to  Cairo. 


CHAPTER  XVn. 

Fbom  the  brilliant  descriptions  given  me  of  the  cele- 
brated Masr,*  of  the  kalishf  that  runs  tlirough  its  centre, 
and  of  tlie  birketsj  that  adorn  its  outskirts,  1  expected,  if 

*  Masr— (;niro. 

t  Kalisli -canal  or  cut,  communicating  with  the  Nile.  That  which  runs 
through  Cairo,  and  feeds  its  different  birkets  or  lakes,  is  opened  every  year 
with  great  solemnity,  when  the  Nile  has  attained  the  requisite  height. 

X  Birkets — excavated  ground  m  and  about  (;airo,  transformed,  after  the  rise 
of  the  Nile,  into  tanks,  on  which  the  inhabitants  go  in  boats. 


ANASTASIUS.  201 

not  an  earthly,  at  least  an  aquatic  paradise.  On  first 
reaching  this  vaunted  city,  I  saw  nothing  but  filth  and 
ruins  on  the  outside,  and  filth  and  misery  within.  "  So 
much !"  exclaimed  I,  thinking  of  Aly  Tshawoosh,  "  for 
travellers'  tales !" 

"  So  too,  said  I,"  echoed  my  companion  the  Caireen, 
somewhat  nettled,  "on  entering  Stambool!"  "What!" 
cried  I,  in  my  turn,  "  would  you  compare  Cairo  with  Con- 
stantinople ?  Where  can  you  find  the  least  resemblance  ? 
Is  it  between  the  vile  swamps  that  here  extend  to  the 
banks  of  the  river,  aud  the  verdant  hills  which  there  rise 
from  the  very  margin  of  the  sea?  between  the  yellow 
muddy  stream  here  treasured  up  for  refreshment  in  half- 
baked  pitchers,  and  the  crystal  rills  there  gushing  forth 
from  golden  fountains'?  or,  finally,  between  the  smoke- 
dried  men,  tatooed  women,  and  blear-eyed,  bloated  chil- 
dren of  this  overgrown  beggarly  place,  and  our  population 
of  patriarchs,  of  houris,  and  of  cherubs  1  In  Constanti- 
nople the  very  cemeteries  of  the  dead  look  like  portions 
of  elysium ;  here  the  habitations  of  the  living  already 
seem  charnel-houses." 

"  With  us  cacli  gem  has  its  foil,"  observed  dryly  my 
friend ;  "  and  we  admire  our  beauties  the  more  from  the 
relief  which  that  very  circumstance  gives  them.  Suspend 
your  judgment  on  our  comforts  till  you  see  the  palaces 
of  our  beys." 

This  was  not  to  be  my  destiny  immediately.  I  had 
observed  the  haughty  looks  and  gorgeous  apparel  of  the 
meanest  of  the  mamlukes  who  condescended  to  mix 
among  the  populace;  and  wished  to  avoid  the  privileged 
caste,  until  I  might  vie  in  my  appearance  at  least  with  its 
minor  members.  1  therefore  was  content  to  sleep  the 
first  night  at  a  khan  ;  and  the  next  morning  prepared  for 
presenting  my  letters.  Keeping  my  friend  Aly  before  my 
eyes  as  my  model,  I  put  on  my  gayest  attire ;  and  when 
fully  equipped  for  my  visit,  viewed  myself  in  a  looking- 
glass  with  such  complacency,  that  I  began  at  last  to  ap- 
prehend the  fate  of  xNarcissus ;  and  for  fear  of  catching 
the  evil  eye  from  myself,  tried  to  spit  in  my  own  face  :* 
deeming  an  extraordinary  case  to  require  an  extraordi- 
nary remedy. 

This  exploit  performed — not  without  some  labour — I 
sallied  forth,  feeling  quite  secure  as  to  M-hat  might  happen. 

*  Tried  to  spit  in  my  own  face — see  page  149,  note. 
I  3 


302  ANASTASIUS. 

A  fellow  ill  the  street,  himself  totally  blind,  showed  me 
the  way  to  Suleiman's  palace,  on  the  lake  Yusbekieh.* 
The  grandeur  of  its  portal,  far  from  damping  my  confi- 
dence, rather  elevated  my  pride,  by  promising  a  theatre 
worthy  of  my  ambition.  Bounding  like  a  ball,  I  ascended 
its  spacious  stairs,  paced  tlie  long  gallery,  and  entered  the 
hall  of  audience.  Perceiving  the  bey,  seated  in  the  angle 
of  his  sofa  at  the  upper  end  of  the  room,  I  boldly  advanced 
— retorting  the  supercilious  and  scrutinizing  looks  of  the 
gay  youths  who  lined  the  passage — and  when  near  their 
patron,  put  my  hand  to  the  ground,  to  my  forehead,  and 
my  lips,  and  presented  my  credentials  with  every  possible 
grace. 

Throughout  the  East,  grandees,  when  first  addressed, 
preserve  an  impenetrable  countenance.  Tlieir  internal 
emotions  lie  concealed  under  a  mask  of  iron.  Thus  they 
avoid  committing  themselves,  as  they  must  in  some 
measure  do,  were  they  even  to  express  the  reverse  of 
what  they  feel.  Still  I  fancied  I  could  discern  athwart 
the  bey's  immoveable  features,  such  an  impression,  pro- 
duced by  my  first  address,  as  I  had  no  reason  to  repine  at. 
Once  or  twice,  while  one  of  liis  eyes  affected  most  dili- 
gently to  run  over  the  recommendatory  lines,  I  caught 
the  other  straying  from  the  paper,  and  stealing  a  sly 
survey  of  my  person,  with  an  air  of  most  encouraging 
approbation.  Ilaving  at  last — apparently  with  great  toil 
— completed  tlie  perusal  of  the  long  epistle,  Suleiman 
laid  it  by  him  on  the  sofa,  wiped  his  face,  and  bade  me 
welcome.  "  My  friend  Otinnan-bey,"  said  he,  moving 
his  little  hands  in  unison  with  his  speech,  "  describes  you 
as  possessed  of  valuable  talents,  and  I  feel  anxious  to 
acquire  a  claim  to  your  services.  Unfortunately,"  added 
he,  in  a  lower  tone,  after  beckoning  to  his  attendants  to 
retire  out  of  liearing,  "our  mamlukes,  with  all  their 
excellent  qualities,  are  somewhat  addicted  to  idleness,  to 
deceit,  and  to  treachery,  and  are  extremely  jealous  of  all 
whom  they  look  upon  as  intruders :  nor  dare  we  openly 
brave  these  little  weaknesses,  or  confer  on  a  stranger 
what  these  our  adopted  children  consider  as  their  rightful 
honours.  Indeed,  the  stranger  himself  would  soon  have 
cause  to  rue  the  unavailing  favour.  I  therefore  do  not 
immediately  give  you  in  my  house  a  definite  office.  But 
stay  as  a  guest,  a  friend,  a  household  counsellor;  and  in 

'  The  lake  Yu.sbeki<;U— one  of  the  principal  birkets,  surrounded  by  a  num- 
ber of  the  motit  considerable  mansions  of  Cairo.  . 


ANASTASIUS.  203 

time  the  thing  may  be  managed.  God  be  praised,  you 
are  not  at  least  a  Turk !  Like  us  you  are  an  Islamite 
from  choice." 

After  this  little  preamble,  the  bey  proceeded  to  try  me 
on  the  nature  and  extent  of  my  acquirements ;  and  as  he 
was  not  sorry  that  liis  mamlukes  should  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  witnessing  his  own  vast  erudition,  he  made 
signs  to  them  to  return  within  hearing  distance  during 
the  examination.     An  Italian  missionary  had  once  given 
him  a  dictionary,  as  a  book  replete  with  short  and  pithy 
stories;  and  in  its  sedulous  perusal  the  bey  h;id  contrived 
to  pick  up  a  considerable  assortment  of  technical  terms 
of  art  and  science,  which  he  employed  as  it  pleased  Provi- 
dence.    Of  the  things  themselves,  whose  appellations  he 
had  learned,  he  seemed  to  have  no  moie  idea  than  the 
huge  Angora  cat  which  sat  purring  by  his  side ;  and  an 
elementary  chaos  of  astronomy,  tactics,  geography,  my- 
thology-, and  medicine,  all  huddled  together  at  random  in 
his  brain,  flowed  in  most  picturesque  confusion  from  his 
lips.     Extensive,  therefore,  as  certainly  was  the  general 
outline  of  his  attainments,  it  still  left  me  room  to  fill  up 
a  few  intervening  blanks,  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  a  very 
favourable  opinion  of  my  own  knowledge ;  without,  how 
ever,  presuming  so  far  on  its  superiority  as  to  inform  his 
highness  point-blank  that  England,  for  instance,  lay  not 
contiguous  to  India — as  he  had  imagined  from  their  con- 
stant warfare ;  or  that  Voltaire  had  never  been  pope  of 
Rome — as  he  had  inferred  from  the  frequent  juxtaposi- 
tions of  these  personages  in  his  missionaiy's  anecdotes. 
With  all  tliis  forbearance,  however,  my  course  of  practical 
education  at  tlie  arsenal,  joined  to  the  speculative  topics 
I  had  heard  discussed  at  Pera,  still  enabled  me  to  pass  my- 
self off  in  the  meridian  of  Cairo  for  a  youth  of  no  common 
accomplishments ;  and  at  every  answer  I  gave  to  Sulei- 
man's subtle  queries,  he  failed  not  to  assume  a  profound 
look,  and  after  some  little  apparent  meditation,  to  exclaim, 
in  an  emphatic  tone,  "  Good,  very  good,  excellent,  admi- 
rable !     In  time  you  will  know  as  much  as  I  do !"     The 
only  thing  which  seemed  to  give  a  little  offence  was  my 
affirming  peremptorily  that  the  earth  revolved  round  the 
sun,  and  not  the  sun  round  the  earth.    At  this  bold  asser- 
tion, so  contrary  to  my  usual  caution,  the  bey  looked  as 
if  he  suspected  me  of  a  design  to  play  upon  his  credulity; 
and  I  could  only  get  out  of  the  difficulty,  in  which  my 
pride  of  learning  had  led  me,  by  assuring  him  that  it  was 


204  ANASTASIUS. 

among  us  a  very  common  belief;  which  he  still  kept 
wondering  that  so  sensible  a  fellow  as  I  seemed  should 
have  adopted. 

When  satisfied  with  the  exalted  idea  which  he  doubted 
not  he  had  given  me  of  his  own  proficiency  in  learned  and 
foreign  lore,  Suleiman  by  degrees  descended  to  more 
familiar  topics ;  and  I  now  was  surprised  in  my  turn  to 
find  a  man  so  utterly  ignorant  in  matters  of  general 
information,  at  the  same  time  so  much  at  home  in  all 
that  concerned  the  immediate  interests  of  his  country 
and  station.  But,  like  many  other  people,  the  bey  prized 
Iiis  knowledge  in  proportion  to  its  rarity,  and  seemed  to 
value  most  that  of  which  he  possessed  the  least.  He 
threw  out  all  liis  questions  about  the  politics  of  the  Porte 
in  so  careless  a  manner,  and  seemed  so  little  to  heed  my 
answers,  that  an  indifferent  bystander  would  have  sworn 
the  most  vital  subjects  to  Suleiman  were  just  those  which 
he  cared  least  about.  He  at  last  concluded  his  long  string 
of  queries  with  the  affairs  of  Christendom.  "  You  have 
been  long  at  Stambool,"  was  his  prefatory  sentence  : 
"  and  therefore  cannot  fail  to  know  all  about  Frangues- 
tan.*  Wliat  bone,  pray,  are  those  Christian  dogs  now 
contending  for?  Do  they  think  they  possess  enough 
upon  the  earth  ?  Or  are  tliey  planning  some  expedition 
to  the  moon  1  Blind  as  they  are,  poor  creatures !  they 
seem  not  less  busy  tlian  tliose  that  can  see !  And  out 
of  mere  curiosity,  one  would  sometimes  like  to  know 
what  is  passing  in  a  mole-hill." 

Book-learning  might  afford  a  pretty  pastime  ;  but  with 
a  race  like  the  mamlukes,  whose  chiefs  as  well  as  meanest 
individuals  were  always  required  to  be  on  the  alert,  and 
ready  alike  for  attack,  for  defence,  and  for  retreat,  skill  in 
the  exercise  of  the  carbine,  the  pistol,  and  the  sabre  were 
the  essential  and  indispensable  qualifications  of  every 
candidate  for  preferment.  In  respect  of  these  military 
accomplishments  also,  Othman-bey  had  in  his  letter 
mentioned  me  with  praise ;  but  I  clearly  saw  Suleiman 
took  it  for  granted  tliat  the  same  human  being  could  not 
possess  talents  so  opposite  and  so  varied.  When,  there- 
fore, I  begged  permission  to  join  the  next  day  in  the 
martial  sports  of  his  mamlukes,  he  strongly  tried  to  dis- 
suade me,  lest  I  should  only  expose  myself:  but  my  per- 
severance conquered.    He  at  last  consented,  though  evi- 

*  Franiinestan— land  of  the  Franks,  name  given  by  the  Mohammedans  to 
Europe. 


ANASTASIUS.  205 

dently  concerned  at  my  obstinacy,  and  pitying  my  rash- 
ness. Notsohis  joungmamlukes!  They  were  delighted 
with  anticipations  of  the  sorry  figure  I  should  make  among 
their  expert  and  dashing  troop ;  and  significant  glances 
circulated  round  every  part  of  the  room.  The  morrow 
was  to  be  a  day  of  merriment. 

At  the  appointed  hour  on  that  morrow  I  went  to  the 
bey's  palace,  and  found  the  whole  household  assembled 
in  the  courtyard,  ready  to  sally  forth.  We  soon  marched 
out  in  grand  procession;  but  when  I  inquired  whither 
we  were  going,  not  a  creature  knew.  The  beys  are  too 
fearful  to  trust  their  followers  with  so  important  a  secret. 
Not  until  the  whole  party  is  turned  adrift  in  the  fields 
does  the  serrah,  or  domestic  charged  with  the  camp  appa- 
ratus, receive  intelligence  of  the  destined  halting  place. 
Off  he  then  sets,  on  his  dromedary,  to  make  his  pre- 
parations :  the  rest  follow  with  loud  clamour ;  and  when 
the  place  of  destination  is  reached,  the  mamlukes  im- 
mediately dispose  themselves  in  a  spacious  ring  round 
the  ground. 

The  Koobbct-el-liaue  proved  to  be  the  spot  selected. 
And  I  suspected  the  bey  of  a  secret  wish  to  verify  his 
forebodings,  when  I  understood  it  to  be  the  most  trying 
ground  for  martial  exercises  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Cairo !  In  order  to  judge  how  it  lay,  to  study  the  mode 
of  play  of  the  mamlukes,  and  to  form  some  estimate  of 
their  strength,  I  at  first  hung  back,  as  if  not  daring  to  join 
in  the  sports :  but,  of  course,  the  less  alacrity  I  showed, 
the  more  I  was  pressed  to  expose  myself.  The  youngsters 
knew,  they  said,  it  was  in  sheer  compassion  upon  their 
inferiority  that  I  did  not  choose  to  come  forward.  But 
my  backwardness  would  not  serve  me :  I  stood  engaged, 
and  my  modesty  must  be  put  to  the  blush. 

As  if  only  reluctantly  urged  on  by  these  repeated  jokes, 
I  at  last,  in  seeming  trepidation,  snatched  up  a  djereed  ; 
and  in  order  to  render  my  incapacity  the  more  palpable, 
the  most  indifferent  performer  of  the  set  was  pitted  against 
me.  Off  went  my  adversary's  stafiT!  Spite  of  my  indif- 
ferent steed,  I  avoided  the  blow,  and  the  harmless  stick 
only  raised  a  cloud  of  dust.  All  wondered  at  my  escape. 
In  my  turn  I  flung  the  wooden  weapon,  but  not  with 
similar  effect.  It  reached  its  destination,  and  most  un- 
equivocally delivered  its  errand.  The  astonishment  of 
the  spectators  redoubled,  and  my  antagonist  limped  in 
rage  out  of  the  circle.    The  rest  of  his  companions  now 


206  ANASTASIUS. 

began  to  suspect  that  it  was  not  a  tyro's  task  to  contend 
with  the  new  comer.  The  more  skilful  players  took  their 
turn.  They  had  little  better  success;  and  the  first  ex- 
clamations of  surprise  gradually  subsided  in  speechless 
disappointment  and  dismay.  Every  voice  was  hushed, 
and  every  lip  bleeding  with  bites  of  vexation. 

I  had  the  good  fortune  to  show  equal  dexterity  in  the 
use  of  the  pistol  and  the  sabre.  The  jar  flew  in  pieces, 
and  the  felt*  was  cut  through  and  through.  In  the  Koob- 
bet-el-haue  at  Cairo  I  thus  first  reaped  the  fruits  of  the 
exercises  performed  in  the  Ocmeidan  of  Constantinople, 
and  the  melancholy  that  produced  the  exploits  in  the  one 
led  to  the  triumpli  that  resulted  from  the  feats  in  the 
other.  So  high  in  an  instant  rose  my  reputation,  tliat  the 
bey  himself  proposed  to  try  his  hand  against  me.  I  had 
heard  him  described  as  an  inditferent  performer.  I  could 
have  no  doubt  that,  equal  to  Suleiman's  ablest  mamlukes, 
I  had  little  to  fear  from  their  master.  Yet  did  every 
person  present  seem  to  revive  at  the  bare  proposal  of  the 
match.  "  How  is  this  V  thought  I :  but  a  moment's 
thought  gave  me  the  clew  to  the  phenomenon.  "Ah, 
rogues,"  I  inwardly  exclaimed :  '•  to  see  me  victorious  is 
now  precisely  what  you  wish  for,  in  order  that  I  may 
irretrievably  lose  the  favour  of  the  bey.  But  take  leave 
of  your  hopes !  Selim  not  only  know^s  when  to  play 
well,  but  also  when  to  play  ill ;"  and  in  fact,  I  took  such 
uncommon  pains  for  this  prudent  purpose,  that  on  quitting 
the  field,  Suleiman  pronounced  me  by  far  the  best  player 
next  to  himself  he  knew  in  Cairo,  and  the  one  he  liked 
most  to  engage  with ;  and,  on  returning  home,  definitively 
took  me  into  his  service.  Fearful,  however,  of  putting 
me  at  once  on  the  footing  of  the  favoured  caste, he  placed 
me  for  the  present  among  his  scratches.!  My  salary 
was  trifling;  but  who  among  the  followers  of  the  beys  of 
Egypt  depended  upon  his  wages  for  his  emolument  1 

Suleiman  possessed,  in  addition  to  the  numerous  mam- 
luke  sprigs  ingrafted  upon  the  family  tree,  one  male  and 
sundry  female  suckers,  directly  sprung  from  the  stock. 
To  his  female  offspring  vSuleiman  seemed  attached:  the 
male  slioot  no  one  could  accuse  him  of  spoiling  by  ex- 
cess of  fondness.  He  considered  the  Bey-Zade  as  a  per- 
fect cipher.     Seldom  he   deigned  to  inquire   after  his 

*  The  felt — which  the  mamlukes  practJHc  to  cleave  at  a  single  stroke  with 
their  sabres. 
t  Scratches— domestics  of  the  beys  who  are  not  slaves. 


ANASTA3IUS.  207 

health  :  never  to  demand  his  presence.  "  What  interest," 
would  he  say,  "  can  I  take  in  a  plant  on  which  all  culture 
is  thrown  away  1  Why  cherish  a  reed  too  feeble  to  sup- 
port my  increasing  age  1  What  I  lay  out  on  a  conceited 
idiot,  who  forgets  his  deficiencies  only  to  remember  his 
birth,  I  lay  out  to  utter  loss.  I  even  expend  it  without 
reaping  empty  thanks !  Are  not  then  my  gifts  more 
wisely  bestowed  on  men  whom  I  cherish  for  their  intrin- 
sic merit,  and  who  reward  me  with  their  gratitude  V 
To  this  mode  of  reasoning  I,  for  one,  could  not  possibly 
object. 

Various  were  the  sorts  of  merit  which,  in  the  eyes  of 
my  patron,  took  precedence  of  kindred.  Valour,  capa- 
city, zeal,  each  obtained  their  share  of  superior  esteem : 
but  the  quality  rated  above  all  others  was  a  pair  of  ruddy 
cheeks.  Among  many  other  instances  of  their  para- 
mount influence,  a  young  fellow  from  Odesche,  remarka- 
ble for  his  stupidity  and  peevishness,  had  just  superseded 
in  the  bey's  favour,  and  in  the  place  of  tchibookdjee,*  a 
Georgian  esteemed  for  his  good  qualities  by  all  his  com- 
panions; and  that,  for  no  other  earthly  reason  which  any 
one  could  discover,  except  that  his  face  looked  like  a  ripe 
October  peach.  Suleiman  himself  saw  nothing  singular 
in  this  fancy.  "  People,"  he  said,  "  value  a  tulip,  a  shawl, 
a  ruby,  a  canary-bird,  a  horse,  for  the  brightness  of  their 
hue  :  they  dress  up  their  domestics  in  the  gaudiest  co- 
lours !  Why  then  should  they  not  be  as  particular  about 
their  faces  1  and  choose  their  attendants  by  the  same 
rule  as  their  flower-pots ;  since  both  alike  are  destined 
to  furnish  their  chamber  !  For  my  part,  it  is  my  delight, 
when  1  cast  my  eyes  around,  to  view  a  long  row  of  hand- 
some busts ;  and  I  think  I  may  be  permitted  to  be  as  fas- 
tidious about  the  hue  of  my  pages,  as  my  neighbour  Ayoob 
is  about  that  of  his  pipe-sticks  !" 

Fortunately,  the  new  comer  possessed  not  in  his  com- 
I)lexion  wherewithal  to  make  any  very  valuable  addition 
to  Suleiman's  collection,  as  it  must  have  kept  me  at 
home  much  oftener  than  I  liked,  for  fear  of  spoiling  the 
set.  So  far  from  mine  being  any  longer  pure  and  primi- 
tive colours,  they  were  rather  become  neutral  tints,  and 
such  as  could  not,  by  their  absence,  leave  the  smallest 
sensible  gap  in  the  bey's  prismatic  scale.  Scarce  a  day 
therefore  passed  without  my  allowing  myself — in  com- 

*  Tchibookdjee— pipe  bearer ;  from  tchibook,  pipe. 


208  ANASTASIUS. 

pany  with  some  of  the  younger  maralukes  of  our  house 
— time  to  visit  Maallim*  Ibrahim,  Maallim  Yacoob,  Maal- 
lim  Yoossef,  or  some  other  of  the  maallims,  or  writers 
of  the  Coobtic  persuasion,  who  lived  round  the  Yusbekieh. 
They  assisted  us  in  keeping  up  some  of  our  good  old 
Christian  customs  ;  for  they  never  would  let  us  depart 
without  reviving  our  spirits  with  a  few  glasses  of  rakie  : 
"  in  order,"  they  said,  "  to  keep  out  of  our  stomachs  all 
the  water  that  surrounded  us."  This  good  purpose,  how- 
ever, they  sometimes  overshot ;  for  one  evening  ray  com- 
panion and  myself  took  so  copious  a  dose  of  the  antidote, 
that  on  returning  home  we  no  longer  could  distinguish 
the  path  from  the  canal  that  ran  alongside  of  it ;  and  so 
fell  into  the  ditch,  whicli  was  full  to  the  brink.  My  com- 
panion first  pulled  me  in,  and  I  afterward  pulled  him  out ; 
and  he  felt  so  thankful  for  this  trifling  compliment,  that 
from  that  moment  we  became  sworn  friends.  Some  of 
the  other  mamlukes,  indeed,  wished  to  sow  the  seed  of 
discord  between  us  ;  but  in  vain  they  tried  to  damp  the 
ardour  of  an  attachment  begim  in  a  ditch. 

Rashooan  was  my  comrade's  name  :  Gurgistan  liis 
country.  He  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree  all  the 
qualities  in  which  mamlukes  excel.  Equally  active  and 
vigorous,  he  could  break  the  most  unruly  horse  ;  leaped 
a  ditch  (when  sober)  with  the  agility  of  a  deer  ;  brought 
liis  steed  to  a  dead  stand  in  the  midst  of  the  swiftest  race  ; 
and  wielded  with  equal  dexterity  the  scimitar,  the  mus- 
ket, and  the  pistol. 

One  day  I  found  him  describing  in  glowing  terms  to  a 
knot  of  his  companions  the  glories  of  his  native  soil.  Its 
(lowers,  fruits,  verdure,  streams,  men,  women,  and  even, 
1  think,  tobacco-stoppers,  were,  according  to  his  account, 
positively  of  a  dift'ereiit  nature  from  those  of  every  other 
country  ;  and  could  he  but  once  more  behold  this  land  of 
wonders,  he  would  resign  his  breath  contented  !  "  I  did 
not  know,  Rashooan,"  said  I,  when  the  party  separated, 
"  that  you  so  grievously  regretted  your  native  country." 
"  Nor  I  neither,"  was  liis  answer ;  "  and,  between  our- 
selves, I  pray  to  God  every  morning  that  I  may  never 
see  it  again.  Fine  horses,  rich  caparisons,  costly  armour, 
sumptuous  apparel,  Egyptian  grooms,  and  negro  slaves, 
would  be  a  sad  exchange  for  a  life  of  hard  labour  and 


*  Maallim;  master— Arabic  form  of  address  to  gentry  or  an  inferior  descrip- 

ttori 


ANASTASirS.  209 

poverty  ;  and  for  what  purpose  ?  Only  to  find  myself  for- 
gotten by  my  parents,  and  recognised  by  nobody  but  a 
landlord  who  would  sell  me  again  !  I  have  lost  my  relish 
for  simplicity,  and  am  weaned  from  my  mother  nature. 
But  it  is  not  amiss,  now  and  then,  to  remind  these  pert 
coxcombs  that  they  are  only  savages,  and  that  I  am  a 
Georgian." 

Scarce  had  Rashooan  uttered  these  words  when  two 
or  three  of  Suleiman's  younger  mamlukes  came  running 
to  us,  and,  addressing  my  friend,  said,  "  Either  something 
very  good  or  very  bad  is  hanging  over  you.  We  have 
left  Othman-kiachef  closeted  with  the  bey,  and  you  are 
the  theme  of  their  discourse.  Both  repeated  your  name 
frequently  with  considerable  vehemence."  "  Ah !"  an- 
swered Rashooan,  "  if  any  thing  extraordinary  awaits 
me,  it  is  sure  to  be  bad.  I  never  was  fortunate  myself; 
nor  ever  brought  good  fortune  to  others  !  When  a  boy 
I  was  sent  among  the  Kabardahs.  Kind  people !  My 
host  adopted  me  as  his  child ;  his  wife  sealed  the  act 
with  the  milk  from  her  own  breast ;  and  his  sons  swore 
to  treat  me  as  a  brother.  What  was  the  consequence  ? 
Tartars  carried  me  off,  my  adopted  kinsman  fell  in  my 
defence,  and  I  was  sold  to  the  Turks.  I  now  am  a  slave 
by  habit  as  well  as  from  necessity,  and  no  longer  wish  to 
be  free  :  the  chance  therefore  is,  that  I  am  doomed  to 
have  my  liberty." 

Other  mamlukes  now  brought  Rashooan  word  that  his 
presence  was  commanded.  Sighing,  he  went,  and  in 
about  half  an  hour  returned  to  us  with  a  countenance 
clouded  by  sadness ;  "  Selim,"  said  he,  "  I  leave  you  :  for 
ever  I  must  leave  the  house  of  JSuleiman." 

"  What  motive,"  cried  I,  "  can  induce  the  bey  to  part 
with  a  favourite  1" 

"  Listen,"  answered  Rashooan.  "  Othman-kiachef 
had  an  elder  brother  in  Georgia,  settled  at  a  distant  place. 
The  kiachef  has  just  discovered  that  I  am  that  brother's 
son.  He  has  consequently  requested  of  Suleiman  to  pur- 
chase me.  But,  as  you  may  suppose,  our  patron  did  not 
think  himself  warranted  by  any  circumstance,  however 
singular,  to  listen  to  the  proposal.  "  Such  a  disgrace," 
cried  he,  "  as  that  of  bartering  my  mamluke  for  money 
shall  lie  neither  on  his  head  nor  on  mine.  Suleiman  may 
inflict  death  on  an  undutiful  son,  but  his  enemies  shall 
never  say,  '  he  exchanged  him  for  gold  !'" 

•'  Othraan  upon  this  looked  exceedingly  dejected,  and 


210  ANASTASIUS. 

Suleiman  for  awhile  seemed  rather  to  enjoy  his  distress. 
At  last  he  proceeded  thus:  'Since,  however,  Rashooan 
is  your  nephew,  God  forbid  I  should  keep  him  from  his 
uncle's  longing  arms.  Receive  tlie  young  man  as  my 
gift,  and  let  the  donor  ever  remain  near  your  heart.' 

"  Othnian,"  pursued  the  Georgian,  "  would  fain  have 
excused  himself  from  accepting  me  in  the  burthensome 
form  of  a  present ;  but  unable  to  obtain  his  nephew  on  any 
other  terms,  he  submits.  I  therefore  leave  you ;  I  leave 
all  that  is  dear  to  me  !  Torn  in  my  childhood  from  my 
natural  friends,  I  now  in  my  youth  am  wrested  from  all 
my  adoptive  brethren.     But  the  will  of  God  be  done  !" 

We  accompanied  Rashooan  back  to  the  palace,  where 
he  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  his  patron  and  his  friends. 
All  regretted  the  young  mamluke  sincerely  ;  and  Sulei- 
man himself  appeared  greatly  moved.  Little  did  he  fore- 
see what  luck  his  gift  one  day  would  bring  him  ! 

The  removal  of  Rashooan  left  me  fewer  inducements 
for  rambling,  and  this  was  fortunate  ;  for  every  day  the 
bey  could  less  endure  my  absence.  I  was  his  cyclopae- 
dia; and  wliatever  puzzled  his  sagacious  brain — whether 
a  paragraph  on  Egypt  in  an  old  Vienna  gazette,  or  the 
site  of  Cairo  in  a  worn-out  Nurnberg  map;  whether  the 
arranging  of  a  microscope  presented  by  a  traveller,  or 
the  telling  of  the  weather  by  a  barometer  extorted  from  a 
Jew  ;  whether  the  construction  of  a  barge,  or  the  design 
of  a  keoschk — all  was  referred  to  me,  as  to  the  oracle-in- 
chief:  so  that  many  a  time,  when  theie  occurred  what 
seeujed  inexplicable  riddles  to  mamluke  intellects,  I  could 
only  escape  my  part  of  (Edipus,  by  my  insuflicient  pro- 
ficiency in  the  language  of  the  Egyptian  sphinx  ;  and  my 
ignorance  of  the  Arabic  saved  my  credit  for  information 
on  many  other  subjects.  The  bey,  however,  recom- 
mended me  to  the  tuition  of  a  schaich,  bred  in  the  college 
of  El-azhar;*  not  doubting,  that,  when  once  taught  all 
the  refinements  of  the  Caireen  idiom,  I  should  no  longer 
be  at  a  loss  for  an  answer  on  any  topic  whatsoever.  He 
thought  me  a  positive  abyss  of  science ;  and,  in  truth,  it 
would  have  been  difficult  to  discover  on  what  bottomed 
my  knowledge.  Whenever  I  feared  that  its  want  of 
solid  foundation  might  become  palpable,  I  diverted  the 
bey's   attention  by  some  piece  of  flattery.     Not  that  I 

*  El-azhar— one  of  the  great  religious  roundRlions  at  Cairo  for  the  promo- 
tion of  science ;  but  where,  of  course,  all  science  is  discouraged  which  is 
thought  10  militate  agaiuui  tlie  interest  of  those  supported  by  the  foundation. 


ANASTASIUg.  211 

ever  condescended  to  perform  so  inferior  an  office  in  the 
endless  departments  of  adulation,  as  that  of  administer- 
ing to  Suleiman  his  daily  dose  of  crude,  unmodified  in- 
cense, which,  in  common  with  all  other  grandees,  he  had, 
from  long  and  inveterate  hahit,  come  to  regard — like  his 
.daily  pill  of  opium — as  an  absolute  necessary  to  his  con- 
stitution; insomuch,  that  while  he  could  as  little  dispense 
with  the  praise  as  with  the  laudanum,  he  swallowed  both 
alike  only  as  a  thing  of  course,  and  felt  neither  peculiar 
exhilaration  from  the  drug  nor  gratitude  towards  the 
giver : — the  task  of  preparing  this  insipid  sort  of  pane- 
gyric I  left  to  the  vulgar  herd  of  attendants.  Mine  was 
the  nicer  office  of  exciting  the  bey's  appetite  ere  I  grati- 
fied it,  and  of  heightening  the  flavour  of  tlie  destined 
draught  by  that  little  previous  fermentation  which  I  often 
had  found  to  give  spirit  to  the  flattest  beverage.  I  there- 
fore usually  began  by  putting  my  patron,  through  means 
of  some  point-blank  contradiction,  into  a  violent  rage. 
To  yield  afterward  to  the  force  and  perspicuity  of  his 
arguments  was  perfectly  irresistible :  it  gave  at  once  the 
pleasure  of  surprise  to  his  triumph,  and  the  appearance 
of  sincerity  to  my  submission  ! 

Such  pains  to  please  deserved  a  recompense,  and  they 
obtained  it,  but  in  mode  nearly  as  circuitous  as  that  in 
■which  the  reward  had  been  earned.  Seldom  was  Sulei- 
man known  to  bestow  a  direct  gift:  what  he  usually 
granted  to  his  favourites  was  an  opportunity  of  grinding 
other  favourites  already  provided  for — and  of  laying 
under  contribution  some  dependant  or  client.  He  would 
send  me,  for  instance,  to  inform  some  rich  Jew  protege 
that  lie  liad  been  thinking  of  him  all  day,  or  some  wealthy 
Christian  tradesman  that  he  had  been  dreaming  of  him 
all  night;  and  truly  I  had  never  before  experienced  such 
a  solid  way  of  thinking,  or  such  golden  dream.s !  As  an 
additional  favour,  he  introduced  me  to  all  his  most  dis- 
tinguished colleagues;  particularly  to  Ibrahim-bey  So- 
geir,  to  Moustapha-bey  Skanderani,  and  to  Ayoob-bey 
the  great.  This  latter  was  pleased  to  express  great  re- 
gret that  his  ill  fate  should  not  on  my  outset  have  directed 
me  to  himself. 

On  first  entering  Suleiman's  house  T  had  found  the 
envy  of  his  mamlukes  entirely  centered  in  the  tchibook- 
djee.  It  was  hard  to  digest  so  marked  a  preference  shown 
a  native  of  Odesche,  whatever  might  be  the  colour  of 
his  cheeks.    But  when  I,  who  was  not  even  a  purchased 


212  ANASTASIUS. 

slave,  became  the  bey's  right-hand,  only  for  practising  a 
few  foreign  juggling  tricks,  as  they  were  politely  termed, 
even  the  favourite  was  thought  aggrieved,  and  began  to 
be  pitied.  Accustomed  to  dissimulation,  he  however 
preserved  with  me  an  exterior  of  civility,  tempered  only 
by  a  few  cutting  remarks,  so  expressed  as  to  seem  to 
arise  from  sheer  kindness;  until  a  favourable  opportunity 
at  last  offered  of  letting  loose  upon  me  all  his  malice. 

Suleiman  had  been  rather  too  eager  one  day  in  exhibit- 
ing his  prowess  at  the  djereed.  Overheated  with  an  ex- 
ercise too  violent  for  his  age,  he  returned  home  greatly 
indisposed.  His  illness  soon  became  so  violent  a  fever 
that  his  life  was  thought  in  danger ;  and  his  hakem  in 
ordinary,  at  his  wits'  ends,  no  longer  knew  what  to  do. 
All  his  mamlukes  stood  aghast  round  their  patron,  ex- 
pecting every  hour  to  be  his  last.  I  was  looking  on  with 
the  rest,  when  all  at  once  it  occurred  to  me  that  I  need 
not  remain  an  idle  spectator.  Eugenius,  my  French  in- 
strucler  at  Pera,  whose  strong  mind  lodged  in  but  a 
weakly  sort  of  a  body,  had  on  occasions  derived  relief 
from  an  English  powder,  which  he  always  kept  with  him. 
Of  this  panacea  he  had  at  parting  given  me  a  few  papers, 
as  a  valuable  present.  But  Anastasius  in  health  never 
remembered  that  Anastasius  might  fall  ill,  and  the  medi- 
cine was  abandoned  to  whoever  chose  to  try  its  efficacy : 
an  occurrence  the  more  frequent,  as  the  result  of  the 
experiment  always  was  favourable.  It  however  now 
struck  me  that,  possibly,  among  my  clothes,  there  might 
be  some  powders  left  which  might  save  the  bey's  life  and 
make  my  own  fortune. 

Full  of  this  idea,  1  broke  through  the  circle,  burst  out 
of  the  room,  and  ran,  with  a  throbbing  heart  to  my  own 
chamber  to  look  for  the  medicine.  But  where  to  find  it 
I  knew  not!  Every  corner  of  my  box  was  ransacked, 
every  hole  of  my  room  was  searched,  every  article  of  my 
apparel  was  turned  over  fifty  times,  without  my  being 
able  to  discover  the  least  symptom  of  the  tiny  blue 
papers  for  which  I  was  hunting.  At  last  I  gave  over  the 
search,  considered  the  case  as  hopeless,  and  went  down- 
stairs again,  to  resume  my  forlorn  station  in  the  sick 
chamber,  where  even  during  my  short  absence  matters 
were  grown  worse.  Scarce  had  I  entered,  than  I  recol- 
lected that  in  tumljlingover  my  wardrobe  I  had  perceived 
the  blade  of  an  old  rusty  handjar — a  keepsake  from  Aly 
— «tick  out  of  the  sheath,  and  had  met  with  some  resist- 


ANASTASIUS.  213 

nee  on  trying  to  push  it  home.  In  the  flurry  of  my 
spirits,  I  had  only  cursed  the  rusty  weapon ;  but,  on  re- 
curring to  the  circumstance,  a  glimpse  of  hope  flashed 
upon  me.  Aly  had  taken  one  of  my  powders  after  his  sea- 
sickness, and  the  handjar  had  been  his  acknowledgment 
for  the  relief  obtained.  I  ran  back  to  my  chamber, 
probed  the  scabbard  to  the  bottom,  and  from  the  very 
point  of  the  implement  of  death  drew  forth  the  last  dose 
of  my  restorative  of  life  and  health — probably  thrust 
there  in  some  thoughtless  moment.  Wrapping  up  the 
precious  medicine  in  an  embroidered  handkerchief,  I  ran 
down  again  to  the  bey;  gave  him — for  fear  the  simple 
truth  should  sound  too  homely  in  his  ears — a  pompous 
account  of  the  singular  personage  to  whom  I  owed  the 
gift ;  expatiated  on  the  incalculable  rarity  and  wonderful 
powers  of  the  medicine  itself;  and  ended  by  imploring 
him  to  take  perhaps  the  last  dose  of  this  powder  of  life 
existing  on  the  whole  terraqueous  globe  ! 

Most  ready  was  my  patron  to  try  its  efficacy ;  but  I 
had  seen  him  swallow  other  medicine  of  less  vital  im- 
portance with  an  ill  grace,  and  spit  out  three  good  quarters 
and  a  half.  Fearful  lest  he  should  serve  in  the  same  man- 
ner what  I  considered  his  sole  remaining  chance  of  exist- 
ence, I  went  for  some  palatable  vehicle  in  which  to 
secure  a  safe  transit  to  the  powder. 

Though  scarcely  absent  two  minutes,  I  found  on  my 
return  the  face  of  affairs  entirely  changed !  The  tchi- 
bookdjee  had  employed  the  short  period  of  my  absence 
to  insinuate  that  the  medicine  probably  was  a  poison,  and 
the  giver  a  rogue.  Of  late,  I  had  been  much  with  Ayoob- 
bey.  Ayoob,  indeed,  was  Suleiman's  most  intimate 
friend!  But  what  were  mamluke  friendships?  And  my 
evident  confusion,  my  wildness,  and  my  running  in  and 
out,  clearly  bespoke  a  guilty  mind.  When  full  of  exulta- 
tion and  hope  1  off(!ied  the  draught,  the  bey  pushed  it 
aside,  and  without  giving  any  reason,  said  he  would  take 
no  more  physic  !  The  declaration  seemed  a  death-blow 
to  myself:  but,  suspecting  whence  it  proceeded,  i  stead- 
fastly cast  my  eye  round  the  mamluke  circle.  The 
tchibookdjee  looked  away ;  I  guessed  the  truth,  and 
trembled. 

It  now  became  necessary  to  ensure  my  own  safety.  I 
therefore  said  with  firmness,  "  This  powder  has  some 
other  virtues  besides  that  of  expelling  fever :  it  exposes 
calumny.     Since  my  patron  rejects  its  healing  powers, 


214  ANASTASIUS. 

let  it  at  least  bear  witness  to  his  Seliin's  heart ;  and  may 

God  forgive  the  unfaithful  servant  who  suffers  the  waste 
of  what  might  have  saved  his  master's  life  !" 

Saying  this,  I  carried  the  cup  to  my  lips.  My  speech 
had  restored  to  the  bey  his  former  confidence.  With  all 
the  eagerness  which  his  debility  permitted,  he  interposed 
his  trembling  hand  between  the  rim  and  my  mouth, 
wrested  from  me  the  draught,  and  whispering  to  the 
tchibookdjee  in  a  faltering  accent,  "he  cannot  be  a 
poisoner,"  at  one  gulp  poured  down  his  throat  the  whole 
contents. 

In  my  eagerness  to  do  good  I  certainly  had  not  suffi- 
ciently proportioned  the  dose  to  the  weakness  of  the  pa- 
tient. Instead  of  finding  relief,  he  felt  greater  oppres- 
sion :  and  soon  his  constitution  appeared  utterly  unable 
to  struggle  with  the  medicine.  The  mamlukes,  upon 
this,  renewed  all  their  former  surmises,  and  spoke  tlieir 
sentiments  so  loudly  in  the  bey's  hearing,  that  they 
seemed  quite  determined  to  justify  their  imputations, 
cost  what  it  might !  and  in  default  of  real  poison,  to  kill 
their  patron  through  the  fear  of  it.  I  was  in  a  trance. 
Had  I  dared,  I  sliould  have  mounted  my  horse  and  rode 
away,  without  waiting  the  issue.  But  I  saw  myself 
watched  on  all  sides,  and  I  knew  that  on  the  smallest 
attempt  to  make  my  escape,  I  must  be  cut  down  on  the 
spot.  Meantime  a  deathlike  paleness  overspread  the 
bey's  countenance :  his  features  became  fixed,  and  his 
breath  ceased  to  be  perceptible.  This  was  the  critical 
moment.  I  gazed  on  his  countenance,  like  one  whose 
own  life  depended  on  its  changes.  At  last  a  slight  dew 
broke  out  upon  his  forehead  !  The  powers  of  the  medi- 
cine triumphed :  plentiful  retchings  and  evacuations, 
which  soon  followed,  enabled  the  system  to  throw  off 
the  weight  which  oppressed  it,  and  the  fever  abated! 
From  that  instant  the  bey's  illness  took  a  favourable 
turn.  Kvery  hour  showed  an  improvement  on  the  pre- 
ceding ;  and  in  a  short  time  after  being  to  all  appearance 
in  the  agony  of  death,  Suleiman  was  on  his  legs  again, 
as  well  ;is  ever;  while,  as  had  been  predicted  at  the 
Fanar,  I  fell  upon  mine  at  last,  and  stood  proclaimed  the 
saviour  of  his  life 


ANASTASirs.  216 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


On  the  occasion  of  his  recovery,  Suleiman  took  a  less 
circuitous  mode  than  usual  of  showing  his  gratitude. 
He  made  me  at  once,  by  a  direct  grant,  multezim  or  pro- 
prietor of  a  district  containing  several  villages;  and 
Selim-aga  thus  became  a  man  of  substance.  But  this 
favour  inflamed  to  such  a  degree  the  jealousy  and  mur- 
murings  of  the  mamlukes,  that  the  bey,  I  believe,  would 
at  last  gladly  have  seen  me  in  the  condition  from  which 
I  rescued  him,  without  the  benefit  of  Eugenius's  English 
powders.  An  urgent  summons  to  his  presence  was  the 
consequence.  The  moment  I  appeared,  "  Selim,"  he 
cried,  "  you  prescribed  the  other  day  for  me ;  1  must  now 
prescribe  for  you !" 

I  thanked  my  patron,  and  assured  him  that  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  his  health  restored  had  put  mine  beyond  the 
reach  of  accident. 

"  You  mistake,"  resumed  the  bey.  "  I  see  by  your  face 
that  you  are  ill — very  ill  indeed  !  The  air  of  Cairo  dis- 
agrees with  you.  Take  my  advice,  and  change  it  imme- 
diately for  that  of  the  province  in  which  your  property 
lies." 

It  was  something  to  find  that  I  was  not  expected  to 
swallow  a  positive  dose,  which  I  feared  might  cure  all 
my  ailments  too  effectually.  Still  I  considered  the  pre- 
scription as  indicating  something  critical  in  my  case,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Say  at  once,  sir,  that  I  have  lost  your  favour ; 
say  at  once  you  banish  me  your  presence  ;  say  that  my 
enemies  have  prevailed !" 

"  To  prove  you  mistaken,"  replied  the  bey, — "  to  prove 
that  I  lose  not  so  soon  all  sense  of  gratitude,  I  add  to  my 
former  gift  a  new  one ;  I  name  you  caimakam*  of  Saman- 
hood.  It  is  a  delightful  place,  and  your  residence  in 
your  own  district  will  season  you  to  the  climate.  On 
your  return,  you  will  appear  less  a  stranger  among  us." 

From  some   lips  "I  advise"  implies   "I  command." 

*  Caimakam— lieutenant  or  official  representative  of  a  public  personage. 
The  grand  vizier,  when  he  takes  the  command  of  the  Turkish  army,  leaves 
hig  caimakam  at  Constantinople. 


216  ANASTASIUS. 

My  only  business,  therefore,  was  to  go  where  bidden,  as 
soon  as  invested  with  the  insignia  of  my  office. 

Meanwhile,  behold  me  now  become  Selim-ca'imakam ! 
and  by  the  indefeisible  privilege  of  always  rising  one  step 
at  least  above  one's  real  rank,  giving  myself  by  anticipa- 
tion all  the  airs  of  Selim-kiachef.  No  little  rayah  had 
the  misfortune  to  meet  me  in  the  street  whom  my  mok- 
hadam*  forced  not  to  jump  from  off  his  long-eared  steed, 
and  humbly  to  salute  me  in  the  mire.  The  great  fat 
Frank  merchants,  indeed,  I  had  the  mortification  to  find 
as  yet  more  firm  in  their  seats,  and  could  only  indulge  in 
the  pleasure  of  bespattering  them  from  head  to  foot  as  I 
passed.  These  were  the  follies  of  my  youth;  but  the 
recollection  has  often  amused  my  riper  age. 

Suleiman's  regular  bazirghiaaf  was  the  merchant  on 
whom  I  chiefly  conferred  the  honour  of  fitting  me  out  for 
my  lieutenancy.  I  chose  at  his  shop  broadcloths,  shawls, 
silks,  muslins,  armour,  &c.  suflieient  for  the  equipage  of  a 
bey.  These  I  paid  for  in  orders  on  my  villages ;  and  as 
the  term  of  payment  was  distant,  so  was  the  price  of  the 
goods  proportionably  high :  I  therefore  felt  very  indignant, 
when,  alarmed  at  my  increasing  requisitions,  the  wary 
trader  at  last  swore  with  great  apparent  concern  that  he 
had  not  a  strip  left  of  the  articles  I  wanted.  It  put  me 
under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  secretly  watching 
some  customer  of  more  established  credit  into  his  shop, 
when,  gliding  in  after  him,  and  finding  the  whole  counter 
covered  with  the  choicest  specimens  of  the  very  goods 
which  I  had  in  vain  demanded,  I  congratulated  the  mer- 
chant on  his  seasonable  supply,  swept  away  the  whole 
assortment,  and  resold  what  I  could  spare  from  my  own 
private  use. 

Spite  of  Suleiman's  impatience  to  see  me  gone,  I  was 
determined  to  witness  at  Cairo  the  opening  of  the  Kalish. 
Rather  than  lose  that  festivity,  I  chose  to  sprain  my  ankle, 
and  limped  to  the  show.  Among  the  costly  articles  which 
I  had  brought  to  grace  my  accession  to  my  government, 
shone  pre-eminent  a  fine  samoorj  pelisse.  This  I  was 
dying  to  display  at  the  fete ;  and  caught  a  cold  on  purpose 
to  wrap  myself  in  furs,  in  the  very  midst  of  the  dog-days : 
nor  did  I  stir  a  step  except  in  my  pelisse.     The  very 

*  Mokhadarn— servant  wlio,  in  Ejtypt,  precedes  public  officers  with  a  staff 
called  nabood,  to  drive  away  the  rnob. 

t  Bar.irghian — merchant  or  purveyor  of  a  rnan  in  office,  by  whom  be  is  paid 
in  drafts  on  his  estates,  or  government. 

I  Samoor— spotted  fur  much  esteemed  in  the  Leyant. 


ANASTASIUS.  217 

Ynob  raved  of  its  beauty ;  and  one  youth  in  particular  be- 
held it  with  suoh  eyes  of  adoration,  that,  unable  to  possess 
himself  of  the  whole,  he  cut  off  the  left  sleeve,  while  it 
hun<j  danjrling  at  my  back,  and  bore  it  away  as  a  relic. 
It  was  mortifying  to  leani  my  loss  in  the  midst  of  my 
happiness.  The  sleeve  indeed  might  be  replaced,  but  the 
pelisse  could  no  longer  be  vvorn  that  day,  and  with  a  deep 
sigh  I  sent  it  home.  Scarce,  however,  had  its  mangled 
body  reached  my  door,  tlian  after  it  v.'alked  in  the  severed 
limb.  Dropped  in  his  confusion  by  the  thief,  it  had  been 
picked  up  by  a  most  conscientiously  honest  fellow,  who, 
by  the  greatest  good  luck,  happened  to  be  a  tailor  into  the 
bargain,  and  offered  to  wield  his  needle  with  such  dili- 
gence, as  in  a  trice  to  enable  the  signor  caimakam  to 
resume  his  robe  of  state.  The  honest  fellow's  services 
were  accepted :  the  cloak  was  given  him,  and  he  retired 
to  work  in  a  little  back  chamber. 

Unluckily,  this  chamber  had  a  window  as  well  as  a 
door,  and  having  come  in  at  the  one,  my  friend  chose  for 
variety  to  go  out  at  the  other.  On  my  looking  in  to 
hasten  the  business,  tailor,  cloak,  and  sleeve  had  disap- 
peared together,  nor  have  they  ever  since  been  heard  of. 
I  applied  to  the  schaich,  or  chief  of  the  robbers,  at  Cairo, 
who,  for  a  certain  consideration,  undertakes  to  restore 
stolen  goods ;  and  during  the  sultriest  season  of  the  year 
had  every  day  fifty  pelisses  of  cat  and  rabbit  skin  brought 
me  to  examine;  but  not  one  of  samoor! 

Thus  bereft  of  my  fairest  jewel,  I  nevertheless  pro- 
ceeded on  my  journey.  According  to  the  custom  of  the 
country,  T  was  accompanied  by  some  of  the  fellahs*  of 
my  own  estate,  to  serve  me  as  a  sort  of  hostages  for  the 
good  behaviour  of  my  remaining  serfs;  and,  in  addition 
10  these,  had  by  way  of  retinue,  four  black  slaves  for  the 
service  of  my  person,  three  hawarees  or  Barbaresque 
horsemen  for  the  protection  of  my  vassals,  half  a  dozen 
kawasses,t  to  clear  my  way  of  canaille,  and  four  or  five 
sai's,  or  grooms  to  take  care  of  my  stud.  This  consisted, 
besides  the  steeds  we  mounted,  of  three  or  four  fine  led 
horses  for  show,  as  many  mules  for  use,  and  a  dromedary 
for  flight,  should  circumstances  render  a  retrograde  move- 
ment expedient.     As  to  asses  for  incognito  expeditions^ 

*  Fellahs— p«-i.sants  ;  who,  in  Eirypt,  are  all  nf  Arabic  extraction,  and  hold 
the  land  according  lo  different  tenures ;    lliough,  in  general,  considered  as 

t  Kawasses — servants  who  follow  their  masters  on  foot. 

Vol.  I.— K 


218  ANASTASITTS. 

they  were,  thank  God,  to  be  found  every  where.  This 
little  assortment  of  bipeds  and  quadrupeds — spread  out 
on  as  long  a  line  as  possible — formed  a  very  respectable 
procession,  and  quite  sufficient  to  make  passengers  inquire, 
and  have  an  opportunity  of  learning,  that  it  was  Selim- 
cai'inakam  on  his  way  to  his  government. 

I  began  my  journey  by  land,  and  spite  of  the  huVnble 
entreaties  of  the  schaichs  and  shehoods*  of  the  different 
places  where  I  halted,  preferred  pitching  my  tents  in  the 
open  air,  to  lodging  in  the  close  and  miserable  hovels  of 
the  towns  and  villages  ;  but  I  took  care  that  the  inhabit- 
ants should  lose  nothing  by  the  great  man  keeping  aloof! 
and  consoled  them  by  sending  for  as  much  provision  of 
every  sort  as  I  could  manage  to  consume  or  to  want.  The 
schaich-el-belled  of  each  district  is  obliged  to  supply  the 
public  officers  on  their  route  at  the  expense  of  the  district ; 
in  consequence  of  which  excellent  regulation  1  should 
never  have  given  up  the  more  economical  way  of  travel- 
ling by  land  for  the  more  expensive  conveyance  by  water, 
had  not  some  of  the  kiachefs  on  my  way  been  most  in- 
conveniently engaged  in  hostility  with  the  neighbouring 
Arabs.  This  rendered  part  of  the  road  insecure  ;  and  as 
I  had  but  an  inadequate  force,  I  resolved  after  three  or 
four  days'  march  by  land  to  embark  on  the  Nile ;  myself 
in  a  light  khandgea,f  which  went  on  before,  and  the  bulk 
of  my  equipage  in  a  larger  and  heavier  boat  behind. 

In  consequence  of  the  adventure  of  my  pelisse,  I  had 
conceived  the  erroneous  notion  tliat  tlie  thieves  of  Cairo 
far  excelled  in  skill  those  of  the  provinces.  This  opinion, 
so  injurious  to  the  latter,  I  had  occasion  to  correct.  One 
evening,  advancing  with  a  fresh  breeze  pretty  rapidly 
against  the  stream,  our  ears  were  suddenly  struck  by  the 
noise  of  a  heavy  body  plumping  into  the  waves ;  and  in- 
expressible was  my  surprise  and  concern  when,  running 
to  the  stern  of  the  boat,  1  beheld  my  best  mare,  which  I 
had  h'ft  as  I  thought  fast  tied  by  the  legs,  swimming  away 
to  llie  land  witli  ail  her  might.  Unable  to  guess  the  cause 
of  this  strange  frciik,  I  did  all  in  my  power  to  call  the 
poor  beast  back,  cried  out  in  the  most  (-oaxing  tone,  held 
up  a  crust  of  bread,  nay,  went  so  far  ;i6  to  neigli  to  a 
miracle:  but  I  might  as  well  have  brayed  J  It  was  all  in 
vain;  for,  as  if  bewitclied,  she  only  swam  the  faster;  so 
that  at  last  I  gave  orders  to  tack  and  row  after  tlie  fugitive 

♦  ShetifXxU— Dolahlos  of  a  village  or  district 

t  Kliandgea— Ijoal  for  passeiigers  used  oji  ihe  Nile. 


ANASTASIDS.  219 

XViih  all  possible  speed.  Noorshah  howev^er  reached  the 
bank  about  fifty  yards  in  advance  of  me,  and  no  sooner 
iiad  she  touclied  the  shore,  than  out  came  the  secret,  in 
the  sliape  of  a  thief;  who,  to  my  inexpressible  horror, 
started  up  from  behind  the  animal,  cut  the  strings  that 
confined  its  legs,  threw  his  own  bandy  shanks  across  it, 
and  scampered  off.  By  diving  all  the  way,  the  scoundrel 
had  contrived  unperceived  to  reach  the  boat,  had  crept 
by  favour  of  the  dusk  into  the  hold,  and  had  slipped  under 
tlie  mare  ;  tlien  raising  his  back  under  her  belly,  had  tilted 
her  over  into  the  water,  and  pushed  lier  to  the  land. 
Unfortunately,  the  boasted  speed  of  the  animal  put  out 
of  question  all  chance  of  successful  pursuit;  and  Noor- 
shah was  placed  in  my  memory,  together  with  the  pelisse, 
among  the  things  that  had  been. 

At  Mamfloot  I  again  quitted  the  khandgea.  Only  five 
or  six  days'  journey  now  separated  me  from  my  new  dis- 
trict, which  bordered  upon  the  province  of  Djirdge;  and 
the  road  bore  a  good  character. 

On  the  third  morning,  however,  passing  near  a  mean- 
looking  village  of  mere  mud  hovels,  I  began  to  doubt  its 
claims  to  that  merit.  All  the  inhabitants,  young  and  old, 
were  under  arms;  some  carrying  clubs,  others  stones, 
and  the  most  distinguished  a  rusty  sword,  or  a  worn-out 
matchlock.  The  enemy  against  whom  they  marched, 
drawn  out  in  most  martial  anay  on  the  brow  of  an  emi- 
nence hard  by,  were  tlie  inhabitants  of  the  next  village; 
and  inquiring  into  the  cause  of  hostilities,  all  the  informa- 
tion I  could  get  was  that  nobody  knew  it.  The  heredi- 
tary animosity  between  the  districts  boasted  an  origin 
concealt'd  in  the  obscurity  of  ages;  but  its  virulence  had 
been  laudably  kept  up  by  as  many  subsequent  injuries 
and  retaliations  as  other  business  permitted;  and  to  my 
great  edification  I  understood  that,  however  totally  the 
first  cause  of  the  enmity  might  be  forgotten,  it  was  not  the 
less  implacable  on  tiiat  account. 

Though  gratified  by  so  praiseworthy  a  spirit,  I  yet  took 
the  liberty  to  represent  that,  even  supposing  the  happi- 
ness of  tlie  community  beyond  enduring,  I  thouglit  a  suf- 
ficient alloy  might  be  found  in  certain  reguliir  drawbacks, 
such  as  contributions  to  the  sultan,  taxes  inqxised  by  the 
beys,  provisions  claimed  by  travelling  officers  like  myself, 
exactions  of  avaricious  landlords,  depredations  committed 
by  wandering  Arabs,  and  yearly  encroachments  of  the 
sand  Oil  the  cultivable  soil,  together  with  the  uicidental 
li2 


S20  ANASTASIUS. 

circumstances  of  locusts,  plague,  imperfect  inigatioilf 
mortality,  and  famine;  witiioiit  rendering  indispensable 
the  gratuitous  addition  of  civil  warfare  and  bloodshed  be- 
tween neighbours,  begun  without  a  cause,  and  carried  on 
without  an  object! 

This  civil  remonstrance  I  was  happy  to  find  was  kindly 
taken,  and  made  a  great  impression  on  my  audience. 
They  alleged  not  a  single  objection,  frequently  interrupted 
my  speech  by  cries  of  "listen!  listen!"  thanked  me 
humbly  when  I  departed  for  my  good  advice,  remained 
stationary  in  the  place  where  I  met  them  for  a  consider- 
able time  after  my  departure,  and  only  when  I  and  my 
suite  were  quite  oui  of  sight,  went,  and,  as  I  have  since 
understood,  gave  their  enemies  the  bloodiest  battle  on 
record  in  the  amials  of  their  history. 

At  last,  after  nearly  four  weeks  spent  on  the  road,  I 
found  myself  to  my  great  satisfaction  performing  the  last 
stage  of  rny  tedious  journey.  Suddenly  I  was  aroused 
from  a  deep  revery  by  the  loud  shouts  of  my  suite  at  the 
sight  of  my  capital.  Delighted  at  the  sound,  I  expected 
that  the  next  would  announce  the  appearance  of  my  sub- 
jects, drawn  out  in  due  state  to  meet  their  new  governor, 
with  drums  beating  and  colours  flying.  "  How  long  they 
must  have  been  watching  my  arrival!"  thought  1,  as  I 
spurred  my  horse,  and  strained  both  eyes  and  ears  to  dis- 
cover some  distant  stir;  hut  no  symptom  of  busile  being 
yet  discernible,  1  again  slackened  iny  pace,  in  order  to 
give  leisure  for  the  procession  to  advance.  Vam  con- 
siderateness !  I  might  proceed  as  slow  as  I  pleased  ;  not 
a  creature  ap[)carcd  to  welcome  my  arrival,  and  1  had  to 
enter  my  capital  unhonourcd  with  the  smallest  notice. 
Matters  mended  not  even  as  1  penetrated  deeper  into  the 
town,  tliough  at  every  street  or  lane  which  I  successively 
entered  I  still  entertained  fresh  hopes  of  some  tardy  de- 
monstration of  respect ;  on  the  contrary,  the  place  looked 
peculiarly  forlorn,  every  door  and  window  was  as  empty 
as  if  the  city  had  been  visited  by  the  plague,  and  the  in- 
habitants, so  far  from  impeding  my  passage  by  their  con- 
gratulations, seemed  rather  to  have  all  fled  from  their 
homes  at  my  approach.  Inconceivably  mortified,  I  fell 
into  a  f-tate  of  such  complelo  abstraction,  that  I  no  longer 
at  all  minded  what  1  was  about,  but  crossed  my  capital 
(which,  to  say  the  truth,  was  among  the  under-sized) 
Ihiougii  and  through  ;  after  a  few  more  turnings  and 
M'hxluv.ir,,  issued  forth  again  at  the  opposite  extremity 


ANASTASIUS.  221 

from  that  at  which  I  had  entered  into  the  open  country ; 
and  leaving  my  residence  wholly  beliind  me,  continued 
on  ill  full  progress  towards  tlie  sai'il.  In  fact,  1  might 
have  proceeded  in  this  way,  in  slow  march,  to  the  very 
end  of  the  world,  had  not  at  once  a  prodigious  clamour 
assailed  my  ears  a  hundred  yards  or  two  in  my  rear.  It 
was  no  less  than  all  the  schaichs,  shelioods,  and  uotables 
of  the  place,  wlio,  seeing  me  thus  contemptuously  turn 
iny  back  upon  my  new  subjects  and  run  away  fiDUi  my 
government,  were  in  full  cry  at  my  lieels  to  stop  ray 
strange  career.  Unfortunately,  the  discord  of  their  shouts 
had  the  contrary  effect  from"  that  which  they  intended. 
Imagining  it  in  my  abstraction  to  be  some  fray  in  which  I 
had  no  concern,  I  only  spurred  on  my  horse  the  faster ;  and 
the  more  pertinaciously  the  procession  pursued  me,  the 
harder  1  galloped.  At  last,  one  of  my  own  suite,  who  in 
the  interval  had  learned  the  truth,  gjl  me  to  hear  him, 
and  rectified  my  mistake.  My  subjects,  poor  creatures! 
were  less  to  blame  than  I  imagined.  Apprized  of  my 
proximity,  they  had  early  in  the  morningtakentlieir  sta- 
tion where  they  expected  me  to  enter,  forgetting  a  bad 
pass  in  the  road,  which,  by  compelling  me  to  enter  at  the 
opposite  side,  obliged  my  subjcicts  to  run  after  the  gover- 
nor whom  they  had  marched  out  in  due  state  to  meet. 
Matters  now  weie  soon  brought  to  an  amicable  under- 
standing, and  I  turned  back  in  better  humour  with  my 
people,  and  without  any  other  ill  consequence  arising 
from  the  mistake,  except  that  the  procession  entered  the 
town  with  its  governor  the  wrong  end  foremost. 

It  had  been  slieer  modesty  in  me  not  to  expect  a  capital 
at  least  equal  to  Raschid  or  to  Fooali.  When,  therefore, 
on  looking  round  I  saw  what  a  place  I  was  in,  the  first  thing 
I  did  was  to  accuse  Suleiman  of  having  treated  me  with 
disres{)ect.  It  was  only  by  degrees  that  I  came  to  more 
reasonable  sentiments;  that  is,  1  learned  to  consider  mine 
as  a  situation,  not  of  amusement,  but  of  profit.  Accord- 
ingly, I  applied  with  all  diligence  to  the  minutiffi  of  its 
duties,  and  by  great  assiduity  made  such  progress  in  my 
studies,  that  in  a  very  short  time  I  was  able  to  tell  to  a 
fraction  of  a  para  what  each  feddan  of  ground  might 
yield,  and  each  head  of  the  subjects  be  chargeable  for, 
whether  to  the  multezim,  the  lieutenant,  the  governor, 
or  the  miri  ;*  and  as  to  my  pastimes,  they  only  varied 

*  Miri— territorial  imposition  of  Egypt. 


222  ANASTASIUS. 

between  letting  leases,  imposing  contributions,  levying' 
fines,  receiving  presents,  and  inflicting  penalties.  Indeed, 
as  tiie  Egyptian  fellah  makes  it  a  matter  of  conscience 
never  to  pay  his  rent  until  compelled  by  main  force,  and 
wears  the  stripes  he  has  incurred  in  his  resistance  as 
badges  of  honour,  my  very  financial  operations  sometimes 
afforded  me  an  opportunity  for  indulging  in  my  warlike 
propensities.  Still  thd  my  genius  in  its  new  sphere  shrink 
into  insignificance  before  tiial  of  my  Coobtic  writer,  who, 
with  a  salary  of  six  medeens  a-day,  and  a  large  family  to 
maintain,  liad  become  by  mere  saving  as  rich  as  a  sul- 
tan's seraf.  It  is  true,  tliat  whenever  he  drew  a  para  out 
of  his  vest,  it  was  as  if  he  tore  his  very  vitals  out  of  his 
bosom.  Once  I  tried  to  make  myself  master  of  his  ac- 
counts, but  1  might  as  soon  have  attempted  to  find  my 
way  in  the  labyrinth  of  Crete.  When  I  complained  of 
this  worthy  personage  to  my  confidential  servant,  I  found 
little  sympathy.  Seyed  shrugged  up  his  shoulders,  said 
it  might  be  tiresome  to  be  cheated,  but  it  was  the  regular 
practice.  If  the  Coobd  cheated  the  multezim,  did  not  the 
multezim  in  the  same  way  cheat  the  caimakam,  and  the 
caimakam  the  kiachef,  and  the  kiachef  the  bey,  and  the 
bey  the  schaich-el-belied,  and  the  schaich-el-belled  the 
pasha,  and  the  pasha  the  Porte,  and  the  Porte  the  sultan, 
who,  he  was  very  sure,  cheated  Allah  himself,  when  he 
assumed  the  title  of  caliph  of  the  faithful? 

Whenever  I  felt  tired  of  the  orations  and  perorations 
of  my  steward,  I  used  to  go  and  hear  at  the  mekkieme 
the  decisions  of  the  cadee.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  the 
conjugal  union  seemed  to  be  a  most  frequent  source  of 
discord;  and  in  all  its  various  stages,  from  its  origin 
to  its  conclusion,  a  most  ample  subject  of  litigation. 
One  day  appeared  a  fair  one  thus  far  entitled  only  to  the 
blushing  honours  of  a  bride.  In  moving  terms  she  stated, 
that  going  home  in  solemn  procession  to  her  bridegroom, 
the  faithless  swain,  iiistead  of  wrenching  his  very  door 
off  its  hinges  to  receive  her,  had  shut  it  full  in  her  face, 
and  had  left  her  to  return  at  her  leisure  to  her  parents. 
Another  day  came  a  regularly  installed  wife  ;  she,  poor 
woman !  after  possession  of  her  conjugal  rights,  had  been 
dispossessed  more  secretly,  and  now  claimed  both  prin- 
cipal and  arrears  of  interest.  And  on  another  occasion 
walked  in  an  afflicted  mourning  widow,  who,  still  as 
much  in  love  with  her  dead  husband  as  wliile  he  lived, 
only  demanded  the  empty  gratification  of  nightly  visiting 


ANASTASIVS.  223 

his  grave  unimpeded  by  her  churlish  relations.  She  was 
pretty ;  her  grief  affected  me  ;  and  once  or  twice  I  went 
to  the  scene  of  her  affliction,  to  mix  my  tears  with  hers. 

In  Europe,  they  say,  the  law  demands  a  long  appren- 
ticeship :  it  is  not  so  among  Mohammedans.  The  Koran 
and  its  commentaries  decide  every  case,  from  a  point  of 
faith  to  a  right  of  gutter,  in  a  few  seconds.  The  Ibrin  of 
trial  is  simple.  Eveiy  man  pleads  his  own  cause,  and 
wonderful  is  the  readiness  of  the  Egyptians  in  finding- 
answers  to  every  interrogatorjs  excuses  for  every  action, 
witnesses  to  every  fact,  and  sureties  for  every  engage- 
ment. I  remember  a  poor  fellow  who,  called  upon  for 
his  respondents,  and  having  none  on  earth,  had  recourse 
to  heaven.  Imam  Aly  was  the  one  he  chose;  nor  durst  the 
other  contracting  party,  albeit  a  little  startled,  refuse  so 
respectable  a  security,  however  distant  the  abode  of  the 
imam,  and  difficult  the  task  of  enforcing  his  appearance. 

My  stay  was  long  enough  in  my  lieutenancy  to  find  the 
subject  of  discourse  which  once  had  appeared  to  me  the 
most  tiresome,  become  the  most  interesting  in  the  world. 
I  mean  the  rise  of  the  Nile.  So  far  from  wishing  never 
more  to  hear  of  it,  I  could  think  of  no  other.  Yet  was  it 
this  season  a  source  of  most  unsatisfactory  contempla- 
tion. The  river  seemed  in  a  state  of  torpor,  and  was  so 
unusually  sluggish  in  rising,  that  soon  every  district 
trembled  lest  its  waters  should  remain  short  of  the  requi- 
site height.  Nothing  was  heard  but  lamentations  and 
complaints.  One  came  to  tell  me  of  canals  which  had 
no  chance  of  receiving  a  single  drop  of  moisture  ;  another 
of  such  as  had  been  drained  prematurel}'  of  their  insuf- 
ficient contents.  Here  the  legal  period  for  cutting  a  dam 
had  been  wholly  disregarded;  there  a  single  field  had 
been  flooded  at  the  expense  of  a  whole  district;  every 
where  it  seemed  as  if  the  dread  of  a  scarcity  had  made 
man  exert  his  utmost  ingenuity  to  render  a  famine  un- 
avoidable. 

I  now  became  haunted  by  the  phantom  of  drought,  the 
most  dreary  that  stalks  over  Eg>'pl's  rich  domain.  My 
thoughts  by  day  and  my  dreams  by  night  ecjually  pre- 
sented to  me  its  ever-extending,  blasting  form,  followed 
by  the  whole  train  of  its  frightful  offspring;  unirrigated 
tracts,  fields  remaining  fallow,  insufficient  crops,  farmers 
unable  to  pay  their  contributions,  peasants  abandoning 
their  villages,  whole  troops  of  fellahs  leaving  their  pos- 
sessions and  their  homes  to  till  the  land  of  the  strauger» 


224  ANASTASIUS. 

impositions  to  remit,  short  rents  to  receive  for  the  bey, 
and  the  caimakara  alone  held  accountable  for  all  the  de- 
ficiencies of  nature  and  all  the  waywardness  of  man.  O, 
how  earnestly  did  I  now  pray  for  some  lucky  incident 
which  might  release  me  from  my  stewardship  and  re- 
sponsibility !  But  of  such  a  piece  of  good  fortune  I  en- 
tertained no  hopes. 

It  however  came,  and  when  it  came  it  failed  of  its 
promised  pleasure.  One  morning,  as  I  sat  puzzling  over 
some  of  my  u'riter's  explanations,  in  walked  a  smooth- 
spoken gentleman,  who,  in  a  civil  tone,  informed  me  that 
he  came  to  take  my  place ;  and  lest  1  should  doubt  his 
word,  handed  me  an  iiijuaction  from  the  bey  to  return 
forthwith  to  Cairo.  This  unlooked-for  recall  produced 
sucli  a  revolution  in  my  sentiments,  that  I  now  would 
gladly  have  given  just  as  much  to  retain,  as  I  would  have 
done  the  instant  before  to  get  rid  of  my  trust.  It  is 
true  that  to  my  concern  for  what  I  left,  was  to  be  added 
my  apprehension  of  what  I  might  find.  So  sudden  a  re- 
moval, so  little  accounted  for,  savoured  of  a  disgrace.  I 
doubted  not  but  my  enemies  had  improved  my  absence  to 
undermine  my  favour;  I  saw  the  tchibookdjee  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  wliole  affair;  and  as  1  had  already  vowed  the 
insidious  pipe-bearer  an  eternal  hatred,  I  could  now  only 
add  the  vow  of  a  speedy  revenge. 

Absorbed  in  my  meditations  on  the  best  mode  of  execut- 
ing what,  but  for  the  consequences,  was  feasible  a  thousand 
ways,  I  oue  day  on  my  homeward  journey  rode  on  so  fast 
as  to  get  entirely  out  of  sight  of  my  suite,  when  suddenly 
I  found  myself  breast  to  breast  with  a  troop  of  Bedoween 
Arabs,  whose  low  dusky  tents,  pitched  behind  a  sand-hill, 
had  remained  concealed  from  my  view,  till  I  almost  stum- 
bled over  them.  The  same  instant  the  chief  of  the  tribe, 
followed  by  half  a  dozen  of  its  ragged  members,  advanced 
upon  me  witli  couched  spears,  demanding  either  a  hun- 
dred sequins  for  my  passage,  or  all  I  had.  Neither  of 
these  proposals  suited  me;  but  my  retinue  amounted  not 
to  one-fourth  of  that  of  the  Arabs,  and  it  seemed  quite 
certain  that  if  we  came  to  blows  we  must  have  the  worst 
of  the  fray.  Without,  tlierefore,  either  advancing  or  an- 
swering the  summons,  I  turned  round  to  the  foremost  of 
my  escort  who,  by  this  time  had  approached  witliin  reach, 
and  bid  them  fill  a  basket  with  ball  and  cartridge.  This 
ammunition  I  sent  the  Bedoweens  ;  telling  them  at  the 
same  time  it  was  the  only  coin  in  which  I  paid  impost- 


ANASTASIirS.  22S 

tions ;  but  if  not  content  with  the  quantity  offered,  they 
might,  as  soon  as  my  army  came  up,  have  as  much  more 
as  they  could  carry  away :  and  that  sent  by  the  speediest 
conveyance.  This  rhodomontade  took  effect.  The 
schaich  received  the  gift  with  thanks,  filled  the  basket  in 
return  with  superexcelient  dates,  and  bade  me  pass  on 
with  the  salutation  of  peace.  This  latter  I  most  readily 
returned;  nor  waited  until  my  army  should  be  in  sight,  to 
hurry  with  all  possible  speed  out  of  that  of  the  Arabs. 

Brooding  all  the  way  to  Cairo  over  the  cause  of  my 
recall,  I  at  last  so  completely  convinced  myself  it  was  an 
entire  withdrawing  of  the  bey's  favour,  operated  by  the 
malicious  tchibookdjee,  that  on  entering  the  capital  I 
thought  I  read  in  every  countenance  the  knowledge  of 
my  disgrace.  This  idea  made  me  throw  my  shawl  over 
my  face  until  I  reached  the  palace.  There,  meeting  at 
the  gate  an  old  and  confidential  comrade,  1  for  the  first 
time  gave  vent  to  my  apprehensions,  and  by  way  of  ob- 
taining, without  asking  it,  more  explicit  information,  cried 
out,  "1  was  come  to  look  after  Osman."— "God  forbid!" 
was  all  my  friend  answered. 

But  these  few  words,  with  the  ominous  smile  by  which 
they  were  accompanied,  were  quite  enougli  to  confirm  all 
my  suspicions.  What  more  indeed  could  I  want  to  be 
convinced  that  the  thing  I  feared  not  only  existed,  but 
was  of  general  notoriety?  Absolutely  beside  myself,  I 
rushed  up  stairs,  flew  into  the  bey's  apartment,  and  hardly 
allowing  myself  time  to  breathe,  or  to  perform  a  respect- 
ful salutation,  "  Sir,"  cried  I,  in  scarce  articulate  sounds, 
"  Osman,  I  know,  will  never  cease  his  machinations,  until 
he  has  entirely  ruined  me  in  your  esteem  !" 

"  If  so,"  coolly  answered  the  bey,  "  your  knowledge  far 
e?cceeds  in  its  reach  even  what  I  imagined ;  nor  did  I 
think  poor  Osman  still  continued  to  disturb  your  repose, 
after  being  himself  laid  for  ever  at  rest." 

"  How !"  replied  I,  my  ideas  now  all  completely  sub- 
verted; "is  Osman  dead?"  "And  what  else,"  replied 
the  bey,  "do  you  think  could  have  made  me  send  for 
you  in  such  haste  1  What  but  the  means  of  now  con- 
ferring upon  you  without  any  obstacle — but  you  are 
too  much  agitated  to  listen  at  present.  I  must  wait 
to-morrow  to  unfold  my  designs.  Meanwhile,  go  and 
compose  yourself." 

I  went,  but  whether  I  obeyed  the  sequel  of  the  injunc- 
tion, let  the  reader  tell  himself.  My  imagination,  always 
K3 


32G  ANASTASIUS.  ' 

ardent  enough,  had  been  set  in  a  complete  blaze  ;  ajwl, 
burning  with  impatience  to  learn  my  new  destinies,  I  only 
felt  my  agitation  changed  in  its  object  without  being  in 
the  least  diminished  in  its  intensity.  The  whole  night  I 
kept  racking  my  feverish  brain  to  clothe  into  some  defi- 
nite shape  the  bey's  vague  and  desultory  hints ;  and  in 
my  anxious  wish  for  the  day  that  was  to  clear  up  the 
mystery,  I  began  to  think  night  had  overslept  herself,  and 
the  morning,  pregnant  with  my  future  fate,  would  never 
arrive. 

At  last  it  duly  shone  upon  the  world,  I  was  summoned 
to  my  patron's  chamber,  and  gave  him  no  cause  to  com- 
plain of  ray  dilatoriness.  Left  with  the  bey  in  much-por- 
tending tete-a-tete,  he  looked  at  me,  smiled  to  see  the 
impatience  depicted  in  my  countenance,  hemmed  twice 
or  thrice  only  to  increase  the  fever  of  my  spirits,  and  then 
began  his  discourse. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  Sklim,"  said  Suleiman,  in  all  the  solemnity  of  a  set 
speech,  "  you  have  seen  our  two  leaders,  and  seldom,  I 
should  think,  can  have  observed  two  personages  more 
unlike  both  In  mind  and  in  body.  The  short,  spare  form, 
the  mild  countenance,  the  insinuating  address,  the  cau- 
tious, calculating  turn  of  the  schaich-el-belled  could  not 
find  greater  contrast  than  in  the  ferocious  features,  the 
colossal  frame,  the  voice  of  thunder,  the  violent  temper, 
the  fearlessness  of  danger,  the  impatience  of  control,  and 
the  prodigality  of  disposition  of  his  blustering  colleague. 
Little  union  might  be  expected  between  qualities  so  dis- 
similar ;  and  in  fact  the  public  at  large,  which  sees  Ibra- 
him ever  prcf(;r  artifu-e  to  force  and  negotiation  to  war, 
while  Mourad  openly  professes  to  know  no  other  instru- 
ment of  persuasion  but  the  sword,  and  dreams  as  lost 
every  moment  given  to  discussion  which  might  be  em- 
ployed in  warfare,  regards  these  two  chiefs  as  constantly 
on  the  eve  of  a  rupture,  and  about  to  hoist  the  standard  of 
interminable  enmity.  IJut  we,  who  observe  more  closely, 
have  lost  all  hopes  on  tliat  head.  It  is  true,  that  for  the 
purpose  of  deceiving  the  world,  of  throwing  their  rivals 


ANASTASIUS.  227 

off  their  guard,  and  of  keeping  their  enemies  in  suspense 
by  the  promise  of  feuds  which  never  happen,  Ibrahim  and 
Mouraii  often  affect  to  be  at  variance.  You  may  have 
heard  Ibrahim  pretend  to  lament  the  hot-headed  temerity 
of  Mourad,  and  Mourad  in  his  turn,  perhaps  with  more 
sincerity,  abuse  tlie  pusillanimous  delays  of  Ibrahim  ;  but 
it  is  easy  to  perceive  that  these  are  only  sallies  rehearsed 
beforehand  by  the  performers.  Each  in  his  heart  feels 
all  the  value  of  that  difference  of  disposition  in  the  other 
which  gives  him  in  his  associate  precisely  all  he  wants 
in  himself,  and  duly  prizes  that  opposition  in  tlieir  re- 
spective characters  which  makes  Mourad  execute  with 
vigour  and  promptitude  all  the  plans  digested  by  Ibrahim 
witii  slow  deliberation,  enables  Ibrahim  in  his  turn  to 
repair  by  minute  parsimony  the  effects  of  the  prodigality 
through  which  Mourad  gains  over  fresh  partisans,  and 
again  renders  Mourad  ever  ready  to  cut  asunder  the  knot 
which  Ibrahim  is  unable  to  untie  !  Thus  it  is  that  these 
dissimilar  ingredients — like  the  gold  and  the  steel  of  a 
Damascus  blade — only  cement  the  two  chiefs  more  closely 
together,  fit  them  better  for  supporting  their  joint  interest, 
make  them  on  all  sides  present  a  more  impenetrable  front, 
and  leave  less  hopes  of  those  chasms  and  fissures  in  their 
union  at  which  competitors  insinuate  themselves  to  divide 
a  party,  to  drive  its  members  asunder,  and  to  rise  on  its 
ruins ! 

"  Some  of  us,  therefore, — Ibrahim-bey  Sogeir,  Osman- 
bey  Tcherkavi,  Moustapha-bey  Skanderani,  Ayoob-bey 
the  lesser,  and  myself — have  at  last  come  to  a  deter- 
mination to  bring  these  all-grasping  leaders  by  main  force 
to  a  more  equal  division  of  the  spoil ;  and  even  Ayoob- 
bey  Kebir,  Youssouf-bey,  and  Ismail-bey  Sogeir,  though 
they  still  seem  to  waver,  only  do  so  in  order  that  they 
may  sell  their  co-operation  at  a  higher  price.  Their 
irresolute  and  doubtful  conduct,  however,  would  have 
made  us  put  off"  the  execution  of  our  design  until  it  had  had 
time  to  acquire  greater  consistency,  did  not  the  present 
juncture  offer  advantages  which  perhaps  may  never  here- 
after recur.  Ismail  and  Hassan,  after  their  long  sleep 
at  Es-souan,  are  at  last  awake,  and  preparing  for  a  descent 
to  Cairo.  Aware  how  little  our  assistance  is  to  be  de- 
pended on  should  the  capital  be  made  the  field  of  battle, 
the  leaders  have  thought  it  advisable  to  hush  the  storm, 
if  possible,  in  its  cradle,  and  Mourad  is  going  to  march  to 
the  Said,  while  Ibrahim  stays  to  awe  us  at  Cairo.     Thus 


228  ANASTASIirS. 

separated  from  his  colleague  and  deprived  of  half  his 
strength,  the  schaich-el-belled  must,  if  strenuously  at- 
tacked, yield  to  our  united  force:  and  in  order  to  be  in 
readiness  for  the  day  of  trial,  we  all  are  busy  recalling  with 
the  least  possible  sIlow  our  adherents  from  the  different 
provinces.  This  made  me  so  abruptly  summon  you  from 
your  government,  without  much  considering  whether  your 
recall  might  not  for  the  moment  wear  the  air  of  a  disgrace. 
You  now  know  what  I  liad  to  conftde  to  you;  nor  need  1 
point  out  the  necessity  of  the  utmost  secrecy." 

Here,  by  rising  from  his  seat,  my  patron  marked  the 
end  of  his  discourse.  The  conclusion  fell  somewhat 
short  of  my  expectations.  Great,  undoubtedly,  to  one 
like  me,  was  the  satisfaction  of  learning  that  all  the  world 
was  going  to  quarrel :  but  still  I  had  looked  forward  to 
the  disclosure  of  some  more  directly  personal  advantage. 
Again — it  occurred  to  me  that  Suleiman  migiit  fear  lest 
the  new  favours  winch  he  destined  for  his  servant 
should  appear  the  sole  result  of  his  necessities,  and  might 
only  defer  to  another  sitting  the  announcing  of  his  inten- 
tions respecting  myself:  all  which  things  considered, 
I  humbly  thanked  him  for  his  expenditure  of  breath, 
made  every  requisite  profession  of  attachment,  fidelity, 
and  zeal,  and  respectfully  retired. 

A  slave  of  Ayoob's  liad  been  waiting  for  my  appear- 
ance near  the  gate  of  the  palace.  The  moment  1  went 
forth,  he  came  up  to  me,  and  rather  in  a  mysterious 
manner,  whispered  a  summons  from  his  master,  which  I 
lost  no  time  in  obeying. 

As  soon  as  Ayoob  saw  me,  "Signor  Caimakam," 
cried  he,  in  his  eager  way — wholly  unlike  the  cold  exterior 
of  other  mamlukes,  who  too  much  resemble  volcanoes 
wrapped  in  snow — "  a  most  extraordinary  occurrence  has 
happened.  It  is  still  a  secret  to  all,  save  the  parties  con- 
cerned: my  own  family  knows  nothing  of  it;  and  you 
are  the  first  stranger  to  whom  I  impart  the  wonderful 
event ! 

"  You  know,"  continued  he,  after  a  short  pause  to  fetch 
breath,  "  that  I  spare  neither  pains  nor  money,  since  I 
cannot  have  my  mamlukes  of  my  own  blood,  at  least  to 
have  them  of  my  own  country — my  beloved  Gurgistan. 
Doomed  to  live  and  to  die  in  this  distant  land,  whoever 
comes  from  the  country  of  my  birth  seems  to  me  a  rela- 
tion. Not  many  days  ago  my  harem  was  enriched  with 
a  new  bud  reared  in  the  parent  soil.    In  order  to  save  the 


ANASTASIUS.  229 

maiden  from  the  rapacity  of  her  landlord,  her  friends 
were  going  to  put  her  under  the  protection  of  a  husband's 
name,  at  the  tender  age  of  eleven  :  but  already  they  had 
deferred  their  purpose  too  long.  Her  wedding-day  was 
fixed,  when  an  armed  troop  carried  her  off;  and  ere  she 
had  time  to  !x»come  a  wife,  she  was  made  a  slave. 

"  Brouglit  hither  to  adorn  my  garden,  this  lovely  rose 
of  the  East  became  my  favourite  flower;  yet  had  I  the 
forbearance,  ere  with  eager  hand  I  placed  it  in  my  bosom, 
to  observe  our  sacred  custom — to  inquire  on  what  stem 
it  had  growii,  and  what  walls  had  sheltered  its  infancy 
from  the  roi'igh  blasts  of  heaven,  and  the  rude  touch  of 
man?  Seliin — would  you  believe  iti  In  my  slave  1 
found  a  sister ! 

"  Tiie  virgin  blushing  before  me  was  my  own  father's 
daughter:  was  a  young  and  solitary  shoot,  which,  long 
after  the  elder  branches  had  been  severed  from  the  parent 
stock,  had  sprung  up  to  shade  the  withering  top  with 
fresh  and  tender  foliage.  For  the  first  time  during  my 
twenty  years'  sojourn  in  Egypt,  I  heard  the  voice  of 
kindred,  and  felt  the  yearnings  of  blood. 

"  But  what  is  all  this  to  you  ?  perhaps  you  are  thinking. 
Listen !" 

Here  Ayoob  gave  me  nearly  the  same  sketch  of  the 
state  of  affairs,  and  of  the  views  of  the  party,  as  Suleiman 
had  done  before ;  except  that  he  spoke  of  himself  as  more 
decided  in  his  sentiments  than  he  had  been  represented 
by  my  patron.  I  began  to  fear  that  I  was  twice  in  one 
day  fated  to  be  inveigled,  by  a  hope  of  personal  advantage, 
into  listening  to  a  long  detail  of  other  people's  concerns. 
But  mark  the  sequel! 

"  At  a  moment  so  critical,"  continued  Ayoob,  "  I  natu- 
rally feel  anxious  to  surround  myself  with  men  who  to 
such  bravery  as  comes  and  goes  not  with  the  fumes  of 
hashish,*  add  such  intelligence  and  skill  as  may  render 
that  courage  useful.  Of  such  small  is  the  number;  but 
you  are  one,  and  Heaven  now  affords  me  the  means  of 
attaching  you  to  my  house,  and  of  rewarding  tiie  sur- 
render i  crave  of  your  person  to  my  service.  I  must 
provide  my  newly-found  sister  with  a  husband  worthy 
of  so  great  an  honour,  and  able  to  pay  his  distinguished 
spouse  undivided  attentions.  Such  a  man  I  cannot  find 
among  my  mamlukes.     The  elder  individuals  of  my 

*  Hashish— an  intoxicating  drug. 


230  ANASTASIUS. 

household  already  are  established;  and  as  to  the  re- 
mamder,  they  have  not  yet  accomplished  their  state 
of  probation. 

"  To  you,  therefore,  I  offer  Zelidah's  youthful  hand; 
to  you,  who  may  become  my  own  support  as  well  as  my 
sister's  solace!  Lst  me,  however,  add,  that  I  never 
should  have  made  the  proposal  while  Suleiman,  your  old 
patron,  wished  to  preserve  his  claims  upon  you.  These, 
I  find,  he  resigns— for  what  reason  I  know  not ;  and  I 
therefore  may,  without  scruple,  offer  you  an  alliance  with 
my  blood,  a  share  in  my  honours,  and  a  home  in  my  house." 

At  this  overture  I  felt  utterly  confounded.  It  filled  me 
with  pleasure,  but  at  the  same  time  with  anxiety.  I 
knew  not  how  to  choose  between  the  brilliant  offer  which 
came  unexpectedly,  and  the  expected  favours  as  yet 
unbestowed.  I  dared  not  hope  that  Suleiman's  thus  far 
undisclosed  designs  would  ever  gratify  my  ambition 
beyond  Ayoob's  avowed  intentions;  but  then  again,  I 
saw  no  means  of  attaching  myself  to  Ayoob  without 
setting  at  naught  the  debt  of  gratitude,  and  the  duties  of 
the  allegiance  which  I  owed  to  Suleiman.  In  this  dilemma 
between  the  certain  and  the  promised  boon,  I  magnani- 
mously determined  to  make  the  proposals  of  the  strange 
bey,  in  the  first  instance,  instrumental  only  in  bringing  to 
the  test  the  munificence  of  my  own  patron — reserving 
their  final  acceptance  or  refusal  for  a  later  period ;  and 
in  a  speech  brimful  of  those  high-flown  notliings  called 
thanks,  begged  Ayoob's  permission  to  ask  Suleiman's 
consent,  ere  I  clianged  my  allegiance — observing,  that  so 
far  from  my  favour  at  home  declining,  it  stood  higher 
than  ever ;  and  in  order  to  confirm  this  assertion,  repre- 
senting, by  a  little  transposition  only  of  the  future  to  the 
past,  those  honours  which  I  still  expected,  as  already 
come  to  pass,  and  only  for  political  purposes  kept  as  yet 
unpublished. 

Ayoob  seemed  not  much  to  relish  the  idea  of  his  having 
his  splendid  offers  accepted  conditionally,  or  his  liberality 
submitted  to  the  discussion  of  a  rival,  and  swore  by  his 
beard  he  thought  it  very  strange:  but  seeing  me  im- 
moveable on  this  point,  "  Then  go,"  said  he  at  last,  "  since 
you  will  be  so  obstinate  ;  but  remind  Suleiman  that  if  he 
stops  the  current  of  my  intended  bounty,  his  own  should 
make  you  unbounded  amends ;  and,  above  all,  stay  not 
long.  An  hour  is  the  utmost  I  can  bear  to  be  left  with 
mv  richest  gifts  thus  hanging  heavy  on  my  hands." 


ANASTASIUa.  2St 

I  promised  to  be  back  in  much  less  time ;  and  flew 
home  as  on  the  wings  of  lightning,  to  communicate  to 
my  patron  the  substance  of  the  interview  with  his  col- 
league. On  hearing  of  his  offers,  he  reddened  and  seemed 
offended.  "  By  the  head  of  our  holy  prophet,"  he  cried, 
in  a  tone  of  bitterness,  "my  brother  Ayoob  uses  me  ill: 
but  these  are  tunes  in  which  we  must  hush  our  resent- 
ments; and  this  Ayoob  knows!  You,  Selim,  I  cannot 
blame  :  his  offers  took  you  by  surprise,  and  you  could  not 
stop  your  ears.  I  liowever  feel  happy,  that  ere  my  rival 
made  his  proposal,  I  hinted  the  new  favours  with  which  1 
myself  purposed  to  crown  your  zeal.  You  might  other- 
wise suspect  me  of  only  acting  from  the  fear  of  being 
outbidden.  Now  mark  me.  My  oldest  kiachef,  Mooktar, 
is  married,  you  know,  to  my  first-born  daughter.  My 
second  kiachef  to  her  sister  next  in  age.  My  other 
children  already  sent  forth  into  the  world  are  provided 
for  in  different  ways  adequate  to  their  deserts.  Thank 
God,  I  have  been  able  to  make  all  my  freedmen  lords  I 
My  haznadar,*  first  in  rank  of  those  still  under  my  roof, 
I  cannot  yet  afford  to  part  with;  and  I  do  not  wish  to 
conceal  from  you  that  had  Osman  lived,  his  name  would 
have  graced  the  nuptial  song  sang  in  honour  of  my 
youngest  girl.  But  Providence  has  called  him  away,  and 
none  of  his  comrades  are  yet  entitled  to  an  alliance  with 
my  blood.  I  may  therefore  indulge  the  suggestions  of 
my  heart  by  giving  you  my  only  remaining  daughter.  It 
is  true,  the  man  she  marries  must  possess  a  public  rank ; 
but  this  also  1  give — I  name  you  kiachef.  Remember, 
however,  that  as  my  favours  are  great,  so  will  your  duties 
be  arduous. — Of  our  intended  plan  of  insurrection,  the 
success  may  depend  in  a  great  measure  upon  your  devo- 
tion, your  skill,  and  your  activity!" 

On  Suleiman  pausing  here,  I  clasped  his  knees,  and 
poured  into  his  lap  all  my  remaining  store  of  thanks  and 
protestations.  This  done,  I  retired  to  a  solitary  place  to 
give  full  scope  to  my  emotions. 

"  I  shall  then  see  myself  a  kiachef!"  exclaimed  I  aloud, 
pacing  up  and  down  the  room  in  an  ecstasy  of  joy ;  "  I  shall 
then  every  time  I  stir  out  behold  dancing  before  me  those 
dear  damasked  spears  which  I  so  often  have  coveted !  I 
shall  appear  abroad  only  with  a  handsome  retinue,  and 
at  home  possess  my  own  separate  establishment  and 

*  Haznadar — treasurer ;  from  hazn6,  treasury-. 


233  ANASTASIUS» 

harem !  No  longer  a  mere  graft  on  a  strange  tree,  I 
shall  cast  my  own  roots  in  the  soil,  and  on  my  own  inde- 
pendent stem  bear  my  own  separate  fruits.  This  chin 
of  mine  shall  henceforth  cease  to  be  kept  close  mown, 
and  shall  put  forth  unrestrained  its  most  luxuriant 
crops!"*  And  immediately,  with  the  eagerness  of  the 
husbandman,  ascertaining  whether  in  his  held  the  budding 
blade  come  up  close  and  strong,  I  ran  to  the  glass  to  see 
whether  my  broad  jaw  promised  to  bear  a  tliicic  and  hand- 
some beard ;  already  coaxed  and  perfumed  in  anticipa- 
tion the  still  sleek  unclothed  skin,  traced  in  imagination 
the  symmetric  outline  of  its  future  jetty  fringe,  and 
wondered  how  the  new  appendage  would  become  the 
remainder  of  my  ieatures ! 

My  raptures  lasted  some  time  ere  I  remembered  that 
I  had  promised  Ayoob  an  immediate  answer;  and  as  soon 
as  my  memory  returned  my  imagination  began  to  wander; 
— I  became  suddenly  seized  with  a  romantic  fit.  The 
substantial  advantages  were  nearly  balanced  on  the  rival 
offers;  but  as  honour  threw  its  additional  weight  into  the 
scale  of  my  patron,  I  took  it  into  my  foolish  head  that 
beauty  must  preponderate  in  that  of  Ayoob.  In  short,  I 
persuaded  myself  that  Zelidah,  by  birth  a  Georgian,  by 
condition  a  slave — must  be  as  superior  in  personal  charms 
to  Khadidge,  a  daughter  of  Egypt,  and  a  descendant  of 
rulers,  as  the  fairest  lily  is  to  the  dusky  bulrush;  and 
determined  at  every  risk  to  see  Ayoob's  sister  ere  I 
decided. 

A  Jewess  of  my  acquaintance  was  the  chief  purveyor 
of  female  finery  for  Ayoob's  harem.  I  went  straight  to 
this  useful  person,  and  made  her  instantly  collect  some 
of  the  richest  stuffs  she  could  find.  I  then  put  on  the 
blue  shift  and  checkered  veil  of  tlie  Egyptian  women  of 
the  lower  order;  and  in  Sarah's  unassuming  suite,  loaded 
with  all  her  packages,  proceeded  to  Ayoob's  palace — now 
and  then  sharply  reproved  by  the  way  for  my  long  strides 
and  strapping  gait. 

Zelidah,  when  we  arrived,  was  unfortunately  in  the  bath, 
and  Signora  Sarah  had  tu  wait.  In  order  to  be  less  con- 
spicuous the  wliile,  I  squatted  myself  down  on  tlie  flooi-, 
in  the  darkest  part  of  the  room.     Even  this  had  too  much 

♦  Luxuriant  rrops— arnoiig  the  Mohammedans,  slaves  are  not  suffered  to 
let  their  beard.i  grow  ;  ihisaiipendage,  therel'ore,  is  always  a  Hijrii  nf  ireedom, 
and  generally  marks  odiciai  dignity,  or  at  least  gravity  of  deportment.  Oncu 
having  been  suffered  to  grow,  U  is  tliought  indecorous)  and  almcsl  profane, 
•gain  to  shave  it. 


ANASTASIUS.  233 

light  to  conceal  me  from  Ayoob,  wlio,  whether  informed 
of  the  entrance  of  a  suspicious  figur(%  or  from  some  other 
cause,  himself  unexpectedly  made  his  appearance,  as  if 
to  see  his  sister.  Tlie  moment  liis  eye  fell  upon  the  bun- 
dle into  which  I  had  transformed  myself,  his  countenance 
changed,  his  brow  became  contracted,  and  he  rushed  out 
again,  mutteiing  to  himself  some  words  of  urgracious 
import,  and  not  at  all  complimentary  to  somebody's  mo- 
ther.* At  this  ill-boding  symptom,  the  Jewess  turned 
pale,  and  striking  her  breast,  "  I  have  brought,"  cried 
she,  "thj  thing  1  should  not  have  come  with,  and  have 
left  behind  what  I  meant  to  have  brouglit !  Go,  Ishah; 
run  home,  fetch  the  tissue  we  were  talking  of,  and  re- 
turn not  without  it." 

Scarce  liad  the  words  been  uttered  when  heavy  foot- 
steps were  heard  to  approach  the  place.  Active  as  she 
was,  Tshah  had  but  just  time  to  make  her  escape,  and 
to  reach  without  hindrance  the  outer  gate.  Running 
home  as  fast  as  possible,  I  cast  off  my  disguise,  and  im- 
mediately hastened  back  to  Ayoob  in  my  own  proper 
form  and  character. 

With  many  apologies  for  the  unavoidable  delay,  I  now 
solemnly  declined  the  bey's  offers,  but  in  terms  full  of 
regret,  of  gratitude,  and  of  protestations.  The  answer 
was  in  the  same  strain,  though,  as  I  thought,  delivered 
somewhat  (;ooUy,  and  in  a  ruflled  manner:  and  I  after- 
ward understood  from  the  Jewess,  who  had  bravely 
remained  at  her  post,  that,  in  less  than  half  a  mmute  after 
I  had  made  my  exit,  Ayoob  reappeared  in  the  harem, 
followed  by  a  host  of  black  eunuchs,  and  looking  blacker 
than  they.  He  again  cast  round  an  inquiring  eye  ;  and 
in  seeming  disappointment  asked  what  was  become  of 
the  Egyptian  woman.  Sarah  told  off-hand  some  not 
quite  ilnpossible  story,  and,  expressing  a  shrewd  doubt 
of  her  servant's  finding  the  stuff  she  wanted,  went  home 
herself,  loo  glad  at  encountering  no  impediment!  Thus 
ended  my  courtship  with  the  fair  Zelidah  ! 

The  instant  Suleiman's  intentions  in  my  behalf  became 
known,  the  greatest  discontent  showed  itself  among  his 
mamlukes.  "  Their  patron,"  they  asserted,  "  had  no 
right  to  give  his  daugliters  to  any  but  mamlukes,  or  to 
make  mamlukes  any  but  purchased  slaves.  Othman- 
bey,  Aboo-seif,  and  Achmet-bey  el  Sukari,   Turks  by 

»  Somebody's  mother— allusive,  to  .an  exclamation  of  anger,  much  in  U8» 
among  the  Turlis . 


234  ANASTASIUS. 

nature,  and  beys  by  the  favour  of  Ibra/iim-keliaya,  though 
precedents,  were  not  examples.  The  oftener  such  abuses 
occurred,  the  more  they  ought  to  be  resisted.  At  last, 
losing  my  temper  at  these  repeated  murmurings,  I  went 
hot  with  passion  to  complain  to  my  patron.  "  t^ir,"  cried 
I,  "your  mamlukes  judge  me  unworthy  of  your  favours. 
Permit  nie  to  make  them  repent  of  their  insolence — 
equally  insulting  to  yourself  and  to  yourservant — or  suffer 
me  to  renounce  your  kindness,  and  bid  Egypt  farewell." 

At  these  words  the  bey  only  stared  full  in  my  face,  and 
set  up  a  loud  laugh  ;  but  perceiving  that  1  joined  not  in  his 
mirth,  and  continued  iumioveably  grave,  he  too  by  de- 
grees dropped  his  assumed  gayety,  and  in  a  serious  tone 
replied,  "  If,  Selim,  you  really  feel  desirous  to  leave  me, 
go !  Why  should  I  detain  your  person,  when  I  cannot 
prevent  the  estrangement  of  your  mind  ?  But,"  continued 
he,  raising  his  voice  until  it  sounded  like  thunder,  while 
he  darted  looks  fierce  as  lightning  round  the  mamluke 
circle,  "  I  acknowledge  not  yet  my  slaves  as  my  masters. 
Let  them  harmlessly  sharpen  with  kohl*  the  soft  glances 
of  their  eyes,  but  let  them  repress  the  moie  offensive 
sallies  of  their  tongues.  Too  soon  may  the  voice  of  this 
presumptuous  caste  cease  to  be  heard  in  Cairo !  Too  soon 
may  we  be  too  happy  to  replenish  our  thinning  ranks 
with  men  not  worlliy  to  gird  on  the  sabre  of  him  whom 
these  young  fools  abuse  !" 

This  speech — supported  by  a  letter  from  Suleiman'* 
kehaya  at  Constantinople,  read  aloud,  in  which  the  agent 
actually  complained  that  the  slave  market  was  em.pty, 
that  the  Russian  she-emperor  had  out  of  mere  spite  made 
the  padi-shahf  give  up  the  yearly  tribute  of  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  Crimea ;  and  that  it  was  feared  the 
whole  world  meant  soon  to  be  at  peace — gave  me  some 
comfort,  and  my  enemies  more  discretion. 

My  marriage  being  fixed,  the  wedding  soon  was  an- 
nounced. Meanwhile,  every  hour  intervening  seemed 
an  age.  I  longed  to  possess  a  wife  who,  if  she  could  not 
be  an  object  of  love,  must  be  an  earnest  of  promotion; 
and  I  was  dying  to  have  in  a  harem  of  my  own  a  sanc- 
tuarj',  where,  tlKJUgh  my  person  should  be  proscribed,  my 
wealth  still  must  remain  inviolate,  and  ray  dear  sequins 
undisturbed ! 

*  Kohl — a  black  and  almost  impalpable  powder,  used  to  tinge  the  eyelidSj 
and  supposed  to  strengthen  the  sight. 

f  The  padj-shah — the  emperor :  title  given  to  the  sultaD. 


AXASTASIUS.  235 

All  things  being  ready  for  my  nuptials,  the  ceremony 
began.  My  bride  was  conducted  to  the  bath  in  state, 
lest  the  world  should  remain  in  ignorance  of  her  clean- 
liness. Properly  steamed,  stretched  out,  and  pumiced, 
she  next  went  "through  tlie  labours  of  a  toilet  so  ex- 
•liiisitc,  that  on  its  completion  not  one  among  her 
beauties  remained  nature's  own!  Several  hours  were 
employed  in  twisting  her  hair  into  the  semblance  of 
whipcord,  in  adding  to  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  plaits 
v,'hich  adliered  to  her  own  head,  two  hundred  and  fifty 
iM-aids  more,  the  produce  of  other  scalps;  and  these  were 
formed  into  an  edifice  at  once  so  elegant  and  so  weighty, 
that  she  could  have  wished  for  a  second  head  merely  for 
common  use.  Her  eyebrows  were  only  dismissed  the 
artificer's  hands  after  being  shaped  into  exact  semicir- 
I'les ;  and  her  eyes  were  not  deemed  to  possess  all  their 
requisite  powers  until  framed  in  two  black  cases  of  sur- 
meh.*  Henna,t  the  symbol  of  joy,  which  already  had 
been  most  liberally  bestowed  upon  the  epistles  which 
communicated  my  marriage  to  my  patron's  numerous 
clients,  was  lavished  in  still  greater  profusion  on  my 
bride's  own  plump  and  lustrous  person ;  and  made  it 
emulate  the  colour  which  no  doubt  Isis  displayed  when 
doomed  to  roam  through  Egypt's  plains  in  the  undignified 
shape  of  a  red  cow.  After  all  these  pains,  taken  for  the 
sake  of  beauty,  the  lady  was,  on  the  score  of  modesty, 
wrapped  up  in  so  many  veils  iiupervious  to  the  eye,  as 
scarce  to  escape  suffocation  ;  but  the  most  celebrated 
awalis  of  the  capital  took  care  to  inform  the  assistants 
in  their  epithalamiums  of  the  splendour  of  the  charms 
and  jewels  which  they  were  not  allowed  to  see. 

I  do  not  know  how,  at  the  nuptial  feast,  with  the  pros- 
pect of  all  tliese  attractions  before  me,  and  in  the  midst 
of  all  the  bustle  of  the  dance,  all  the  din  of  music,  and 
all  the  glare  of  the  lights,  1  insensibly  fell  into  a  rever)', 
composed  of  at  least  as  many  gloomy  as  cheerful 
thoughts; — but  so  it  was  ! 

"  Here,"  said  my  wandering  mind, "  am  I,  the  youngest 
son  of  a  petty  droguemau  in  an  island  of  tlie  Archipelago — 
I,  at  one  time  fallen  so  )nuch  l)eneath  the  level  of  my 
own  destiny  as  in  vain  to  seek  the  situation  of  a  menial, 
become  the  master  of  a  host  of  slaves,  the  son  to  a  bey 

*  Surmeh — another  name  for  kohl . 

t  Henna — a  rod  juice,  exiracied  from  a  plant,  with  which  the  Egyptians  die 
their  women's  toes  and  fingers,  and  the  Persians  tlieir  horses'  tails. 


236  AXASTASIUS. 

of  Egypt,  and  the  governor  of  a  province; — in  other 
words,  already  occupying  a  station  far  beyond  what  at 
one  time  my  most  sanguine  dreams  durst  have  promised 
me  ;  and  yet  regarding  that  elevation  only  as  a  stepping- 
stone  to  a  station  infinitely  more  exalted — to  that  of  bey  ; 
nay,  who  knows?  of  schaich-el-belled  itself! 

"  But  by  what  a  series  of  toils,  and  sacrifices,  and  perils, 
I  may  be  doomed  to  puichase  these  honours,  who  also 
can  tell  ?  Alas !  do  I  not,  on  the  very  threshold  of  a 
career  strewed  with  as  many  thorns  as  roses,  begin  by 
yielding  up  my  person  perhaps  to  an  unseemly  female, 
and  my  freedom  to  a  domestic  tyrant.  For  well  1  know 
the  condition  of  marrying  a  patron's  daughter!  And 
v.hat  labours,  what  snares,  what  treachery  may  be  the 
offspring  of  this  splendid  union,  may  accompany  every 
step  in  the  road  of  my  advancement,  1  know  not  yet.  But 
the  die  is  cast :  and  I  must  wait  the  issue  of  the  game  !" 

A  shake,  prolonged  by  the  chief  of  the  singing  damsels 
with  the  most  consummate  skill,  through  every  note  of 
the  gamut,  until  it  drew  forth  such  a  peal  of  taibs  or 
bravas  as  made  the  room  shake,  roused  me  from  my  un- 
seasonable meditations ;  and  brought  back  my  mind  to 
where  sat  my  body.  Presently  a  pretty  alme,*  inviting 
me  to  make  her  tambarine  resound  with  the  clang  of 
my  gold,  threw  my  thoughts  into  a  totally  new  channel. 
I  began  to  feel  impatient  for  the  momeni  that  was  first 
to  show  me  the  partner  of  my  future  life;  and  in  this 
disposition  deemed  every  new  diversion  a  new  annoy- 
ance. "  Shall  I  never  see  the  end,"  muttered  1  to  myself 
in  despair,  "  of  these  tiresome  amusements  !" 

At  last  a  female  messenger  secretly  summoned  me 
away  from  the  noisy  hall  of  mirth  to  the  silent  sanctuary 
of  Hymen.  With  awe  and  anxiety  I  passed  its  thresh- 
old, and  was  ushered  into  the  presence  of  her,  on  whose 
qualities  of  peison  and  of  mind  must  depend  so  great  a 
portion  of  my  future  fate.  The  mysterious  veil  which 
till  tlien  had  concealed  her — face,  form,  and  all — from 
my  mquisitive  eye,  fell  at  her  feet ;  and  1  saw — 

"  What  ■?"  wonders  perhaps  the  reader.  "  An  angel  of 
light,  sent  from  the  highest  heavens,  on  purpose  to  make 
my  earthly  dwelling  a  paradise  ?" 

"Oh  no!  that  would  have  been  too  unreasonable  aa 
addition  to  my  good  fortune." 

■  *  Alm6— the  singular  of  awalis  or  singers. 


ANASTASIUS.  237 

"An  ugly  little  monster,  then?  sufficient,  were  this 
earth  a  heaven,  to  convert  it  into  a  hell  1 — A  being  calcu- 
lated to  stamp  on  each  endearment  all  the  merit  of  mar- 
tyrdom V 

Alas!  is  it  then  decreed  that  the  human  mind  must 
always,  from  one  extreme,  run  straight  into  the  other? 
like  the  ball  whose  recoil  is  ever  projected !  And  are  there 
not  a  sufficient  number  of  individuals  in  the  world  neither 
handsome  nor  ugly ! 

Of  my  spouse  at  least  I  do  not  know  what  else  could 
have  bsen  said  with  due  adherence  to  truth.  Her  face 
was  neither  of  a  description  to  excite,  in  defiance  of 
reason,  a  very  extravagant  passion  ;  nor  yet  of  a  species 
to  damp,  in  despite  of  duty,  a  more  legitimate  ardour. 
Like  other  plants  kept  carefully  secluded  from  the  bene- 
ficial aspect  of  the  sun,  this  prisoner  of  the  harem  cer- 
tainly had  a  sickly,  pallid  hue.  Bounded  by  its  sable 
locks,  her  wan,  colourless  face  might  aptly  be  compared 
to  the  moon  surrounded  by  darkness ;  but  tlien  again, 
from  the  midst  of  this  unvaried  expanse  her  large  lan- 
guishing black,  eyes  shot  forth  glances  like  lightning 
when  it  pierces  the  clouds  ;  and,  as  virtue  is  its  own  re- 
ward, the  assurances  of  unbounded  devotion  which  my 
situation  caled  for  tarried  not  to  diffuse  over  Khadidge's 
countenance  some  of  that  animation  which  alone  seemed 
wanting  to  class  her,  if  not  with  the  Helenas  and  the  Cleo- 
patras  of  two  thousand  years  ago,  at  least  with  tue  pret- 
tiest of  the  mongrel  race  which  at  present  grace  the  land 
of  Egypt. 

But  ere  from  the  hour  when  I  first  beheld  my  spouse 
the  sun  had  completed  one  single  of  its  daily  revolutions, 
not  a  doubt  remained  on  my  mind  that  I  had  obtained, 
instead  of  a  mistress,  a  master.  1  had  finly  changed  iny 
allegiance  from  the  father  to  tlie  daughter,  and  from  a 
lord's  dependant  was  become  a  lady's  slave.  Nor  was 
even  the  general  rule  applicable  to  whatever  mainluke 
married  his  patron's  offspring  modified  by  the  peculiar 
disposition  of  the  lady  Kliadidge.  Quite  the  reverse. 
Within  a  most  delicate  fraiue  the  young  lady  concealed 
a  most  unbending  mind.  The  least  breath  of  air  seemed 
capable  of  anniliilating  lier  person,  but  no  breatli  of  man 
had  any  power  to  influence  her  will.  Already  in  llie  first 
coyness  of  the  bride  tlicre  lurked  mora  of  pride  tlian  of 
timidity;  and  in  the  subsequent  altered  conduct  of  the 
wife,  there  shone  forth  an  exaction  of  dues  rather  than  a 


<238  ANASTASIUS. 

surrender  of  affontions.  Jealousy,  indeed,  Khadidge  felt, 
and  in  all  its  force  ;  but  it  was  of  that  contracted  sort 
which  fears  tlie  loss  of  a  tangible  property  rather  than 
that  of  a  mental  tenure ; — of  that  sort  which  in  a  man 
rests  satisfied  when  he  has  locked  up  liis  wife.  As  Kha- 
didge  could  not,  consistent  with  custom,  in  the  same  way 
lock  up  her  husband,  she  took  care  not  only  to  let  me 
have  no  female  retinue  of  my  own,  but  to  keep  concealed 
from  my  view  all  the  nymphs  of  her  own  suite  that  might 
divert  my  feelings  from  their  legitimate  current.  The 
instant  my  footsteps  were  heard  near  the  gynecaeum,  all 
its  inmates  short  of  sixty  used  to  hide  themselves  or  fly, 
leaving  me  with  my  lady  in  awful  tete-a-tete.  In  one 
instance,  indeed,  the  anxiety  of  the  attendants  to  obey 
their  instructions  defeated  its  own  purpose.  A  j'oung 
and  pretty  slave,  unable  to  get  away  in  time,  took  the 
desperate  resolution  of  creeping  under  a  clothes-basket 
in  the  verj'  middle  of  the  room  through  which  I  had  to 
pass.  In  the  dark  I  fell  headlong  over  the  awkwardly 
placed  utensil ;  and  in  my  rage,  grasped  with  such  vio- 
lence the  bundle  within,  which  I  accused  of  my  downfall, 
that  ere  I  recognised  its  nature,  my  spouse,  whom  the 
noise  had  attracted,  found  her  fair  attendant  infolded  in 
my  arms.  In  vain  I  pleaded  ignorance  of  what  I  thus 
had  grasped.     The  pretty  slave  never  more  was  beheld ! 

"And  Anastasius,  the  impatient  of  control,"  methinks 
exclaims  my  reader,  "  submitted  tamely  to  such  egregious 
tyranny." 

Alas !  already  had  the  climate  of  Egypt  begun  to  exert 
over  my  energies  its  enervating  inlluence;  already  had  I 
imbibed  all  tlie  languor  with  wliich  its  watery  exhalations 
by  degreas  affect  foreigners;  already  was  I,  in  point  of 
listlessness  and  apathy,  a  perfect  matcli  for  mj'  indolent 
helpmate.  Whih;  she  lay  all  day  long  motionless  on  her 
sofa  at  one  end  of  the  house,  I  lay  all  day  long  equally 
motionless  in  my  recess  at  the  otiier  end;  and  if  she  could 
scarce  accomplish  the  labour  of  clapping  her  hands*  for  a 
slave,  to  hold  up  a  chip  of  tcnsookf  to  her  nose,  I  could 
hardly  go  through  the  exertion  of  calling  an  attendant  to 
sprinkle  a  few  drops  of  some  sweet  scent  over  my  beard. 
Hour  after  hour  1  used  to  sil  inaccessible  to  visiters,  in  a 
sort  of  trelliced  birdcage,  suspended  over  the  kalish, 

♦  Clappin!;  hT  hinds— whi'-h  in  th"  K-i<tt,  whire  servants  are  always  ia 
waitins;  in  ihe  room,  stands  in  Iipii  of  ringing  the  bell, 
t  T(^u.<lOok— Hcaall  tablet  of  musk  or  amber 


ANASTASIUS.  239 

puffing  clouds  of  perfume  through  a  pipe  cooled  in  rose- 
water,  ;ind  deeming  an  anteree  thin  as  a  cobweb  too  heavy 
clothingr  for  my  delicate  person. 

I  felt  the  more  anxious  to  enjoy  the  moments  of  repose 
still  within  my  reach,  as  I  considered  the  days  of  toil  to 
be  at  hand.  The  rumour  of  Ismail  and  Hassan's  impend- 
ing descent  eveiy  day  acquired  new  strength,  and  the 
preparations  of  Mourad  for  a  southward  march  every  day 
became  more  active.  But  the  whole  was  a  bubble,  and 
it  burst  at  last.  Misunderstandings  arose  between  the 
exiles  in  the  Said  and  the  Arab  schaichs  on  whose  alli- 
ance they  depended.  The  quarrel  rose  at  last  to  such  a 
heisrht,  that  the  Bedoween  troops  already  with  the  bej's 
again  retired  into  the  desert.  The  expedition  to  Cairo, 
therefore,  was  given  up,  and  with  the  plot  fell  the  counter- 
plot. On  all  sides  affairs  seemed  to  assume,  for  a  season 
at  least,  an  aspect  more  calm  and  serene. 

Meanwhile  I  had  secured  my  kiac;heflik  as  well  as  my 
spouse ;  and  finding  that  for  some  time  to  come  I  was 
not  likely  to  be  called  out  on  actual  service,  I  felt  it  in- 
cumbent upon  me  to  act  like  other  governors,  who  ainiu- 
ally  visit  tiieir  provinces,  and  spend  a  few  weeks  in  the 
agreeable  occupation  of  regiilathig  the  police  and  levying 
the  contributions  of  their  various  districts.  For  the  pur- 
pose of  appearing  in  my  government  with  proper  eclat, 
I  mortgaged  one  year's  income  of  iny  estate,  took  an 
affectionate  leave  of  my  patron,  sighed  with  my  wife  over 
the  duties  of  my  station,  and  set  out  to  riot  in  the  luxury 
of  receiving  presents  and  imposing  avaniahs. 


CH.A.PTER  XX 

According  to  custom,  T  journeyed  slowly.  On  setting 
out  in  the  morning,  the  attendants  of  my  tent  used  to 
gallop  on  in  advance,  and  on  arriving  in  the  evening  1  used 
to  find  it  pitched.  In  order  to  vary  the  scene,  I  fre- 
quently during  my  march  assumed  some  disguise.  Some- 
times it  was  that  of  a  travelling  Syrian,  sometimes  of  a 
Barbaresque,  and  sometimes  of  an  Arab  enveloped  in  his 
abbali.*     Thus  fearless  of  observation,  and  aloof  from 

*  Abbah— Arab  cloak. 


S40  ANASTASIUS. 

any  suite,  I  amused  myself  in  prowling  about  the  court" 
try,  and  peeping  into  the  peasants'  hovels.  My  servants, 
indeed,  discouraged  this  mode  of  travelling;  they  never 
ceased  to  express  their  uneasiness  at  their  lord's  thus  ex- 
posing his  precious  person ;  but  tlie  more  good  reasons 
Ihey  gave  for  my  staying  with  my  retinue,  the  farther  I 
extended  my  rambles.  I  wanted  to  see  all  that  passed  ; 
and  if  the  master's  eye  be  the  best,  the  master's  garb  is 
the  worst  for  making  discoveries.  My  trouble  seldom 
went  unrewarded.  In  one  place,  the  village  schaichs, 
mistaking  me  for  the  kiachef's  caterer,  offered  bribes  of 
fattened  fowls  to  make  me  swear  there  was  a  complete 
famine.  In  another,  the  townfolks,  honouring  me  with 
the  office  of  the  great  man's  steward,  promised  me  one 
whole  piastre  out  of  each  sequin  which  I  disbursed  on  his 
account ;  and  in  a  third,  wheie  I  passed  for  an  entire 
stranger  to  the  travelhng  officer,  they  invited  me  to  go 
halves  with  them  in  robbing  his  equipage  on  the  high- 
way. Here  an  Arab,  who  was  abusing  a  fellah  for  pre- 
ferring the  service  of  the  mamluke  to  the  freedom  of  the 
desert,  appealed  to  me  as  a  brother  Arab  for  the  justice 
of  his  reproach ;  and  there  a  peasant,  who  was  describ- 
ing to  a  townsman  the  rapacity  of  the  kiachef's  people, 
referred  to  me  as  to  a  fellow-peasant  for  the  truth  of  his 
assertiou. 

One  day,  in  my  solitary  rambles,  I  met  on  its  way  to 
the  river  a  family  of  villagers,  consisting  of  three  genera- 
tions and  upwards;  for  besides  grandfather,  father,  and 
sons,  several  of  the  daughters  seemed  burthened  with 
more  tiian  the  babes  they  bore  on  titeir  backs.  An  ihram 
in  rags,  an  old  mat  torn  to  pieces,  and  an  assortment  of 
pitchers  worthy  of  an  antiquarian's  collection,  were  the 
travelling  relics  of  the  deserted  home.  A  few  head  of 
consumptive  cattle  formed  the  van,  and  a  worn-out  plough 
■closed  the  procession. 

"  Whence  come  you,  good  people  f  cried  I,  addressing 
the  patriarch  of  the  family.  "From  the  Feyoum,"  was 
his  answer. 

"And  you  leave  the  native  soil  to  seek  the  bread  of 
strangers?"  "Soon  I  shall  be  called  away,  juid  my  son 
■will  not  in;  able  to  redeem  his  inherit;i:ic.e.  Shall  he  wait 
to  be  driven  from  the  land  his  father  idled  V 

"  Whence  arises  your  distress  V 

"From  God  and  man  in  conjunction.  Eveiy  day  our 
kalish  grows  more  eJicumbered ;  every  year  our  s(nl  creeps 


ANASTASmS.  241 

further  under  the  advancing  sands.  Alas !  as  if  the  very 
sources  of  fertility  became  exhausted  with  age,  our  noble 
stream  itself  seems  tired  of  flowing,  and  for  the  last  two 
years  has  made  abortive  efforts  to  attain  its  ancient 
height.  Egypt's  soil,  instead  of  crops,  will  soon  only 
bear  corpses.     Can  we  then  fly  too  soon  V 

"  And  let  those  that  stay  behind  bear  the  burthen  of  the 
absent  ?" 

"  Those  we  leave  to-day  would  have  left  us  to-morrow." 

"  Who  is  your  lord  ]" 

"  Even  that  we  scarce  can  tell.  One  day  it  is  the  sul- 
tan, in  whose  name  we  are  taxed ;  another  the  beys,  who 
are  employed  to  tax  us,  or  the  delegates  of  those  beys 
throughout  all  their  numberless  stages ;  another  the  mul- 
tezim  or  owner,  who  accounts  with  the  beys ;  another 
the  Arab  schaich,  who  rents  the  land  of  the  owner.  All 
call  themselves  our  masters  while  we  can  pay  them  trib- 
ute ;  all  deny  their  being  so  when  we  want  their  protec- 
tion !" 

My  retinue  now  came  in  sight.  "  Hark  ye,"  added  I. 
therefore,  in  haste,  "  servants  should  not  betray  servants, 
but  here  come  the  masters.  Take  this,  therefore,  and 
go ;"  and  hereupon  I  gave  tlie  party  to  the  amount  of  a 
piastre,  begging  they  might  not  huzza  lest  the  lord  should 
hear  the  noise. 

Scarce  had  I  at  the  ensuing  halting-place  sat  down  to 
my  welcome  supper,  wlien  in  burst  a  fellah  dragging  by 
the  sleeve  another  of  the  same  class.  "  This  rogue," 
said  the  first,  "  is  the  man  who  last  year  stole  your  lord- 
ship's mare."  Of  course  the  heavy  charge"  was  most 
solemnly  denied ;  but  not  minding  what  I  considered  as 
a  thing  of  course,  "  Scoundrel,"  said  I  to  the  accused, 
"had  you  been  content  at  least  with  only  taking  my 
black  mare  !  but  to  rob  me  of  my  white  one — "  "  The 
white  one!"  exclaimed  the  man,  "as  Allah  is  my  witnesSj 
I  never  once  came  near  her !"  "  No  more  you  did,"  was 
my  reply,  "  for  there  she  stands ;  but  the  black  one  yor 
stole,  I  find,  and  for  her  you  shall  swing." 

I  was  still  exulting  in  my  ingenuity  on  this  occasion, 
and  thinking  myself  at  least  a  Solomon,* — or  a  Sancho 
— when,  passing  by  a  Latia.  hospice  on  the  outskirts  of 
The  town,  my  ear  was  assailed^by  most  pitiful  groans ; 
and  looking  through  a  latticed  windo\v,  I  discerned  their 


*  A  Solomon— it  stood  in  the  original  Suleiman,  which  is  the 
Vol.  I.—L 


same  nam'- 


:J42  ANASTASIXJS. 

cause  in  the  sliape  of  a  flagellation,  v.hich  a  lusty  friar 
was  inflicting  with  his  knotty  girdle,  not  on  his  own  sturdy 
back,  but  on  the  much  less  powerful  shoulders  of  a  little 
yellow  Coobd,  whom  he  forcibly  held  down  before  him. 
Doubting  the  efficacy  of  this  mode  of  instilling  a  doc- 
trine, I  interposed,  and  inquired  of  the  missionary  the 
reason  of  this  paternal  correction. 

"  While  we  distributed  rice,"  replied  the  friar,  "  this 
fellow  chose  to  become  a  Catholic ;  now  that  supplies 
grow  scarce,  and  that  we  hardly  have  enough  for  our- 
selves, he  brings  me  back  his  chaplet,  and  cries, '  no  pilaff, 
no  pope !' " 

The  conduct  of  the  little  Coobd  I  certainly  could  not 
approve ;  but  it  reminded  me  of  my  own  towards  Padre 
Ambrogio.  I  conceived  a  fellow-feeling  for  the  defence- 
less sufferer,  and  released  him  from  the  clutches  of  his 
ghostly  corrector.  Thus  it  was,  that  to  my  former 
achievements  I  added  those  of  a  true  knight-errant,  and 
became,  if  not  so  indefatigable  a  manslayer  as  Antar,  at 
least  a  worthy  rival  of  Don  Quixote. 

Knight-errantry,  however,  was  entirely  set  aside  as 
soon  as  I  came  within  the  pale  of  my  own  jurisdiction. 
The  first  hovel  within  its  precincts  whicli  1  entered  gave 
me  but  an  indifferent  opinion  of  the  condition  of  my  vas- 
sals. In  the  mud  of  the  doorway  lay  weltering — affected 
in  various  degrees  with  the  rheum  tliat  was  to  end  in 
total  blindness — five  or  six  bloated  brats,  quite  naked, 
and  fighting  for  a  bit  of  mouldy  millet  cake,  the  size  of 
my  little  finger.  Further  on,  in  the  cabin,  sat  over  a  heap 
of  buffalo's  dung,  and  quite  enveloped  in  its  offensive 
smoke,  a  female  spectre,  mother  of  these  gaunt  abortions, 
who,  on  seeing  a  stranger,  tore  the  only  rag  from  off  her 
body,  to  cover  with  it  her  face  ;  and  at  the  most  distant 
(!xtremity  of  the  hovel,  stood  the  head  of  the  dismal 
family,  burying  the  bag  of  ri(;e  intended  for  its  support 
iu  the  earth  that  formed  the  floor.  One  more  spadeful 
thrown  over  the  store  would  have  completed  its  conceal- 
ment wiien  I  made  my  appearance.  At  this  awful 
sight  the  spade  dropped  out  of  the  peasant's  hands  ;  and 
the  rag  he  called  his  turban  rose  a  full  inch  from  his 
head. 

"  Be  composed,  my  friend,"  cried  I,  "  it  is  not  the  enemy 
that  is  coming,  it  is  your  own  governor." 

"  Alas !"  replied  the  man,  "  will  not  the  kiachef  devour 
my  rice,  and  can  the  Bcdoween  do  more  1    But  since  you 


AN'ASTASIUS.  243 

have  seen  the  heap,  take  half,  and  mention  not  the  other, 
or  we  must  all  perish !" 

"  Come,"  rejoined  I,  "  for  once  keep  the  whole ;  but 
when  my  writer  calls  for  my  tribute,  remember  I  know 
your  hiding-place,  and  think  not  your  honour  engaged  to 
let  yourself  be  cut  in  stripes,  before  you  pay  the  rent  you 
owe !" 

At  the  words  I  departed,  leaving  the  fellah  motionless 
with  astonishment  at  liaving  seen  his  kiachef  without 
paying  for  the  sight. 

"  And  this,  then,"  thought  I,  "  is  the  land  which  its  in- 
fatuated natives  boast  to  be  the  finest  on  the  earth ;  where 
they  would  rather  die  of  want  than  live  in  plenty  else- 
where. That  it  has  a  hidden  charm  I  needs  must  believe, 
since  all  obey  its  attraction;  but  where  it  lies  I  cannot 
yet  discover.  1  am  now  in  the  very  heart  of  tliat  Feyoom 
so  famous  for  its  roses,  and  all  that  yet  has  struck  my 
senses  is  the  smell  of  its  cow-dung!" 

Arrived  at  the  place  of  my  residence,  I  immediately 
set  about  receiving  with  all  proper  dignity  the  homage 
and  the  presents  of  my  subjects.  My  writer  took  special 
care  that  none  of  my  vassals  should  have  to  complain 
of  my  forgetfulness.  To  each  he  sent  a  summons  to 
welcome  their  lord ;  and  his  invitations  were  addressed 
not  only  to  the  aboriginal  and  stationary  cultivators  of 
the  soil,  but  also  to  the  Arab  schaichs,  who  occasionally 
here  and  there  rented  a  district.  The  liberality  of  these 
latter  on  this  occasion  exhibited  various  shades  of  differ- 
ence. The  first  of  my  Bedowee*  tenants  who  attended 
my  summons  gave  me,  over  and  above  tlie  tribute  due, 
two  camels,  a  dromedary,  and  fifty  fat  sheep,  with  fleeces 
white  as  snow.  "  This  begins  well,"  thought  1.  Tlie 
second  produced  for  my  acceptance  a  present  of  a  differ- 
ent hue — two  jolly  Abyssinian  damsels  of  the  most  com- 
plying temper :  observing  "  that  even  ivory  looked  in- 
sipid, unless  contrasted  with  ebony."  The  third  only 
presented  his  landlord  with  a  lean  steed ;  but  then  he  was 
of  noble  blood,  and  his  pedigree  so  long  that  it  would 
have  reached  to  Cairo.  "  Even  this  is  not  much  amiss," 
said  I  to  myself.  A  fourth  Arab  chief  now  made  his 
appearance,  who  gave  me  not  a  single  para  beyond  the 
stipulated  rent;  and  to  him  I  only  grew  somewhat  recon- 
ciled  when  there  came  a  fifth,  who  raised  such  a  cora- 

*  Bedowee— or  Bedoween. 

L2 


244  ANASTASIUS. 

motion,  that  I  would  willingly  have  remitted  all  he  owed 
me,  with  a  handsome  consideration  on  my  side  into  the 
bargain,  to  see  a  hundred  leagues  of  imperviable  desert 
separate  our  respective  jurisdictions. 

I  had  left  the  Lady  Khadidge  my  wife  fully  occupied  in 
collecting  every  species  of  amulet  and  charm,  and  recom- 
mending herself  to  the  efficacy  of  every  form  of  devout 
orison  and  practice,  in  vogue  either  among  Mussulmans 
or  Christians,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  her  waist  lose  on 
my  return  its  perverse  slimness :  but,  except  on  the  score 
of  progeny,  felt  with  respect  to  my  spouse  in  the  most 
happy  security,  when  unexpectedly  an  express  arrived 
from  Cairo,  with  the  sad  tidings  that  she  had  not  only 
been  seized  with  a  sudden  illness,  but  was  actually  con- 
sidered as  in  very  great  danger.  As,  however,  the  sapient 
Moslemin  Esculapius  called  in  on  the  occasion,  had 
decided  upon  the  case  without  seeing  the  patient,  on  the 
mere  evidence  of  a  bit  of  silk  thread  tied  round  her  wrist, 
I  chose  not  implicitly  to  trust  to  his  report,  and  imme- 
diately set  ofl'  myself  with  all  speed  for  the  capital — 
resolved  that  some  Frank  physician  should,  if  possible, 
cure  my  wife,  even  at  the  risk  of  seeing  her ;  and  only 
puzzled  how  to  bring  about  so  desperate  a  measure  ! 

Alas !  it  was  written  that  I  myself  should  beliold  her 
no  more  I  Just  before  the  last  stage  of  my  journey  the 
breath  of  life  had  left  her  for  ever!  My  speed  only 
brought  me  home  in  time  to  hear  the  dismal  bowlings 
that  were  raised  on  my  youthful  helpmate's  decease.  At 
my  first  aUghting  in  the  courtyard  of  the  house  of 
mourning,  a  fresli  peal  of  wooUiah-woes,  louder  than  any 
former,  went  forth  from  every  window,  by  way  of  appro- 
priate greeting ;  and,  without  much  preparation,  gave  me 
the  first  notice  of  my  loss.  I  was  next  dragged  by  force 
of  arms  to  the  place  where  lay  an  insensible  corpse,  she 
whom  my  last  parting  look  had  left  elate  in  all  the  pride 
of  youth,  of  health,  and  of  power.  Plates  of  gold  cov- 
ered the  coffin,  dazzling  tissues  hung  around  it,  and 
flowers  of  every  hue  filled  the  air  with  their  fragrance,  as 
if  to  mock,  or  to  render  more  dismal  by  their  gaudiness, 
the  foul  corruption  at  work  within.  "  O  Khadidge,"  cried 
I,  at  this  solemn  and  appaUing  sight,  "  too  soon  has  thy 
tale  been  told :  too  soon  hast  thou  glided  by  like  a  noon- 
day shadow;  loo  soon  has  the  rough  Avind  of  death 
swept  away  the  just  expanding  blossom  of  thy  exist- 
ence!" and  hereupon  I  let  the  funeral  proceed.    For 


ANASTASIUS.  245 

already  the  attendants  were  chiding  me  that  I  thus  rudely 
kept  the  black  and  blue  angels  of  the  tomb  waiting  for 
their  new  guest. 

My  myrtles  now  faded ;  my  only  shade  now  being  that 
of  the  cypress,  I  went  and  deposited  my  grief  at  Sulei- 
man's feet.  A  good  deal  afflicted  himself,  he  yet  pre- 
served his  wonted  courteousness,  and  assured  me  that  his 
sentiments  in  my  behalf  would  ever  remain  unchanged. 
I  thanked  him  for  saying  so ;  but  felt  that  I  had  lost  the 
surest  pledge  to  his  favour,  and  was  tempted  to  apply  the 
Greek  saying,  "  Welcome  this  misfortune,  so  it  come  but 
single !" 

A  mamluke  seldom  finds  much  leisure  for  mourning. 
Scarce  had  I  composed  myself  for  the  purpose,  when  my 
retirement  was  invaded  by  a  rumour  that  the  expedition 
against  the  btys  of  Upper  Egypt,  a  few  months  before 
unexpectedly  abandoned,  had  been  as  unexpectedly  re- 
sumed. It  soon  was  followed  by  a  strange  report  that 
Mourad  had  actually  set  out  on  his  march  for  Es-souan. 
This  event  would  only  have  afforded  us  a  subject  foi 
rejoicing,  had  not  the  Signer  Mourad — whether  with  the 
view  of  reserving  for  his  own  adherents  all  the  profits  of 
the  campaign,  or  in  the  idea  of  leaving  Ibrahim  provided 
in  his  absence  with  sufficient  means  of  defence — con- 
tented himself  with  onlj^  takmg  on  this  occasion  his  own 
troops,  instead  of  all  those  at  Cairo  which  belonged  to 
his  party ;  wlience  the  schaich-el-belled  retained  a  larger 
force  at  his  disposal  than  was  desirable  for  the  success 
of  our  plan.  Still,  despairing  of  a  more  favourable  op- 
jjortunity,  we  determined  to  put  it  forthwith  into  execu- 
tion :  and  a  meeting  of  all  the  principal  confederates  was 
convened  at  Ayoob's  palace,  to  determine  upon  the  best 
mode  of  proceeding. 

When  it  came  to  my  turn  to  give  my  opinion,  I  pro- 
posed rushing  at  once  with  all  our  host  upon  the  schaich- 
el-bcUed,  surprising  him  in  his  palace  ere  any  assistance 
could  reach  him  from  the  citadel,  and  running  every 
hazard  in  order  to  secure  his  person.  No  hint  whatever 
was  to  be  given  him  of  the  least  dissatisfaction  lurking 
in  our  breasts;  above  all,  no  proposal  of  any  sort  was  to 
be  made,  nor  no  step  to  be  taken  that  could  put  the  wily 
chief  in  any  way  upon  his  guard,  ere  this  purpose  was 
accomplished.  When  once  fairly  in  our  power,  Ibrahim 
must  submit  to  whatever  terms  and  grant  whatever  secu- 
rities we  chose  to  prescribe. 
t 


246  ANASTASIUS, 

Several  of  the  party,  and  among  others  Suleiman  my 
patron,  felt  the  expediency  of  this  decisive  conduct;  and 
supported  my  proposal  with  all  their  influence:  but 
Ayoob  as  strenuously  opposed  it.  He  would  not  hear  of 
proceeding,  as  he  called  it,  to  extremities  with  the  head 
of  the  corps,  until  milder  measures  had  been  tried ;  and 
when  I  reproached  him  with  faint-heartedness,  looked 
sig-nificanily,  first  at  me,  then  at  the  farther  corner  of  the 
room,  and  at  last  cried  out  in  an  angry  tone,  "  that  at  least 
ixe  never  yet  had  fled  from  any  place  in  women's  clothes." 
Encouraged  by  the  sentiments  of  this  leading  person- 
age, some  of  the  lesser  members  of  our  party  now  in  their 
turn  opposed  my  scheme  with  all  t!ie  resolution  of  cow- 
ardice ;  and  the  boldest  measure  which  could  obtain  the 
assent  of  the  majority,  was  that  of  marching  out  of 
Cairo,  collecting  all  our  forces  in  tiie  Koobbet-el-haue, 
and  from  our  camp  sending  Ibrahim  the  option  of  com- 
pliance with  our  terms  or  immediate  and  interminable 
warfare.  On  this  poor  and  spnitless  conclusion  of  the 
meeting  Suleiman  in  his  wrath  rent  his  garment,  I 
shrugged  up  my  shoulders,  and  the  few  that  had  common 
sense  considered  our  affairs  as  lost.  ' 

According  to  the  plan  resolved  upon,  as  soon  as  Mou- 
rad  was  sujjposed  to  be  sufficiently  advanced  on  his  way 
to  the  Saitl,  we  bravely  ruslied  out  of  the  capital,  pitched 
our  camp  under  the  city  walls,  and  deputed  Saleh,  the 
ablest  of  Ayoolj's  kiachcfs,  to  lay  before  Ibrahim  our 
long  list  of  grievances.  On  t!ie  first  blush  of  the  busi- 
ness, the  schaich-el-belled  appeared  more  frightened,  and 
more  disposed  to  grant  redress,  than  I  durst  have  lioped. 
He  seemed  ready  to  accede  to  any  terms;  and  only 
wanted— he  assured  us— clearly  to  understand  what  were 
our  wishes. — Those  who  had  insisted  on  gentle  measures 
now  triumphed,  and  looked  all  exultation.  In  the  course 
of  the  negotiation,  it  is  true,  their  confidence  in  their 
sagacity  abated  a  little.  The  first  panic  of  the  chief 
seemed  gradually  to  subside:  he  showed  symptoms  of 
returning  resolution ;  and  contrived  to  make  the  affair 
drag  on  a  long  while  after  the  expected  period,  ere  it 
came  to  a  conclusion.  At  length,  however,  he  agreed 
to  our  demands;  the  treaty  was  put  into  writing^  and 
emissaries  went  out  in  every  direction  to  colle(;t  such  of 
the  schaich-el-belled's  creatures  as  were  to  be  securities. 
We  only  waited  for  the  hostages,  triumphantly  to  enter 
the  city  and  take  possession  of  the  government. 


ANASTASIUS.  247 

All  at  once  a  most  appalling  report  spread  through  the 
camp!  While  we  were  quietly  drawn  up  under  one 
extremity  of  the  city,  Mourad,  it  was  said,  had  with 
all  his  lorce>  re-entered  its  precincts  at  the  other. 
Infoinied  on  liis  march  of  our  insurrection — which  per- 
haps its  only  object  had  been  to  bring  about  prematurely 
— he  had  redescendecJ  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  crossed 
over  at  Djizeh,  and  resumed  his  post  at  Cairo,  ere  the 
enormous  circuit  of  this  city  had  permitted  our  receiving 
the  least  intimation  of  his  precipitate  return ;  and  the 
very  messenger  who  was  to  have  brought  us  the  pledges 
for  the  fulfilment  of  the  treaty,  brought  the  first  authentic 
intelligence  that  all  negotiation  was  at  an  end !  "  Tell 
my  friends  without  the  gates,"  were  the  last  words 
addressed  to  this  personage  by  Ibrahim,  "  that  smce  they 
have  taken  tlie  trouble  to  quit  Cairo  of  their  own  accord, 
they  have  nothing  to  do  now  but  to  make  the  best  of 
their  way  to  Upper  Egypt ;  Mourad,  my  colleague,  is 
less  enduring  than  1  am."' 

We  looked  aghast ;  but  followed  the  schaich-el-belled's 
advice.  Raising  our  camp  without  a  moment's  delay, 
we  glided  in  haste  behind  Mount  Mokhadem,  and  duiing 
four  days  marched  without  interruption  along  the  back 
of  the  rugged  ridge  of  whicii  it  forms  tlie  extremity. 
Tiien  crossing  its  uneven  width,  we  on  the  fifth  morning 
gained  the  river.  This  too  we  passed,  and  soon,  on  its 
Mestern  bank,  reached  the  town  of  Minieh. 

Here  we  fixed  our  head-quarters.  Our  position  afforded 
us  every  convenience  for  what  was  next  in  oui  wishes  to 
ruling  at  Cairo — starving  the  capital  by  intercepting  its 
suppUes.  To  contribute  to  this  laudable  purpose  as 
effectually  as  possinle,  1  stationed  my  own  little  troop  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ash-moonin,  where  I  had  opportunities 
of  making  good  captures  and  of  manifesting  great  im- 
partiality. The  time  in  truth  admitted  not  of  nice  dis- 
tinctions between  friends  and  foes :  besides  wiiich  there 
lurked  about  me  I  do  not  know  what  presentiment  that 
my  sojourn  in  Egypt  was  drawing  to  a  close.  I  there- 
fore determined  to  make  the  most  of  my  time  whde  1 
staid.  Summer  insects  sting  sharpest  in  autumn,  when 
they  begin  to  grow  weak. 

Still  it  was  my  study  that  the  little  offerings  of  my 
friends  should  appear  the  sole  result  of  their  own  libe- 
rality. Receiving  inteUigence  one  day  that  a  rich  Coobd 
of  Cairo  was  to  be  on  the  road,  I  took  special  care  to 


248  ANASTASIUS. 

greet  him  on  his  passage.  "  I  knew  your  intentions,  my 
worthy  friend,"  said  I,  "of  travelling-  this  way  with  all 
your  money  and  jewels ;  and  for  old  friendship's  sake 
immediately  scoured  the  country,  that  you  might  meet 
with  no  extortion."  Davood  was  all  thanks.  "Set 
bounds  to  your  gratitude,"  resumed  I ;  "  the  two  hundred 
sequins  you  destine  me  for  my  trouble  I  positively  will  not 
take.  AH  1  can  consent  to  is  to  accept  a  hundred." 
Davood  began  to  remonstrate.  "  No  words,"  cried  I, 
"  but  the  sequins ;  for  the  robbers  still  are  near !"  So 
thought  Davood,  and  paid  the  money. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Hunger,  they  say,  drives  the  wolf  out  of  the  forest : 
it  certainly  in  the  year  eighty-three  drove  the  schaich-el- 
belled  out  of  Cairo ;  but  with  a  full  detemiination  to  clear 
the  banks  of  the  Nile,  of  which  we  entirely  impeded  the 
navigation.  Some  surprise  indeed  was  created  by  thus 
seeing  the  two  leaders  exchange  offices  and  characters  : 
for  while  Ibrahim  sallied  forth  in  warlike  trim  to  attack 
the  enemy,  Mourad  remained  in  the  capital  a  tranquil 
spectator  of  the  fray.  The  conclusion,  however,  showed 
that  for  once  Mourad  had  foiled  Ibraliim  with  his  own 
weapons.  During  the  march  of  the  schaich-el-belled, 
his  colleague  negotiated  so  successfully  with  the  sultan's 
pasha,  that  he  induced  the  vizier  to  invest  two  of  his 
mamlukes — Osman-kiachef  surnamed  Tamboordgi,  and 
Mohammed-kiachef  called  the  Elfi — with  the  rank  of  beys. 

This  proceeding  of  Mourad's  appeared  so  suspicious 
to  Ibrahim,  that  he  began  to  fear  lest  his  colleague  might 
be  meditating  the  same  game  which  he  himself  had 
played  before ;  and  having  drawn  him  out  of  Cairo,  might 
shut  its  gates  against  his  re-entrance,  as  he  had  shut  tliem 
against  ours.  He  therefore  changed  his  plan,  or  at  least 
seemed  to  do  so ;  and  made  this  occurrence  the  pretext 
for  sparing  us  the  battle  which  he  probably  never  had 
intended  to  give.  Instead  of  waging  savage  war,  he 
proposed  terms  of  peace.  Our  leaders  judged  it  prudent 
to  me||^  his  advances ;  and  in  October  of  the  same  year 
Ibrahim  reinstated  our  whole  party  in  Cairo. 


ANASTASIUS.  249 

Mourad  now  in  his  turn  sullenly  marched  out ;  but  we 
at  first  heeded  not  much  his  pettishness :  as  it  is  far  from 
a  rare  occurrence  for  the  rulers  of  Egypt  to  agiee  most 
amicably  upon  a  rupture.  The  apparently  impending; 
hostilities  afford  each  party  a  pretence  for  nnposing  on 
its  adherents  and  clients  extraordinary  contributions;  and 
when  the  last  para  for  the  warlike  preparations  is  paid — 
lo  and  behold !  the  world  is  gladdened  with  the  news  of 
a  reconciliation. 

On  this  occasion,  however,  Mourad  protracted  the 
show  of  warfare  somewhat  longer  tiian  usual;  and  indeed 
acted  his  part  with  such  truth  of  imitation,  as  almost  to 
impress  us  with  the  idea  of  the  reality :  for  not  only  he 
actually  retired  into  the  Said,  but  there  continued  with 
such  earnestness  the  task  which  we  had  undertaken  of 
destroying  the  supplies  of  the  capital  in  their  very 
sources,  that  Ibrahim  at  last  began  to  think  the  joke  too 
serious,  and  in  order  to  appease  his  rival,  again  sent  us 
fresh  notice  to  quit  the  capital.  It  was  unpleasant  to  be 
thus  bandied  to  and  fro;  but  at  this  juncture  braving 
Ibrahim  would  iiave  been  bravuig  the  whole  force  in  the 
citadel,  ready  to  move  at  iiis  command.  Thus  deprived 
of  every  hope  of  successful  resistance,  we  agreed  to 
obey ;  but  only  with  the  view  of  executing  a  sciieme 
proposed  many  limes,  and  as  ofteu  rejected,  of  coalescing 
in  the  Said  with  Ismail  and  Hassan. 

I  was  at  home  when  the  resolution  of  our  beys  to  quit 
Cairo  reached  me.  luiniediately  on  receiving  it  I  collected 
all  that  was  most  valuable  in  my  harem,  and  while  the 
beasts  of  burthen  were  loading,  walked  over  the  various 
apartments  of  my  abode,  as  one  who  bestows  a  last  look 
on  friends  he  leaves  for  ever.  "  Happen  what  may," 
exclaimed  I,  "  here  I  have  at  least  enjoyed  a  few  moments 
of  ease  and  quiet,  whose  existence  fate  has  no  power  to 
expunge  from  the  records  of  time  !  Should  I,  while  I  hve, 
enjoy  no  other,  my  mind  will  revert  to  these  with  a  grateful 
recollection  !"  All  now  being  ready,  I  joined  my  patron, 
and  with  the  rest  of  our  party  marclied  out  of  the  cit3^ 

In  the  full  confidence  that  Ibrahim  must  make  the 
peace-oftering  required  of  liim,  Momad  had  redescended 
from  the  Said  along  the  eastern  banks  of  the  Nile,  and 
iiad  returned  to  the  vicinity  of  Cairo.  From  the  heights 
of  the  Mokhadem  he  saw  our  troop  wind  along  the  plain. 
He  had  the  vantage-ground,  and  thought  the  momeni 
propitious  for  extermmating  our  hostile  body  at  a  blow. 
L3 


"250  ANASTASItrs. 

To  rush  down  the  hill  with  all  his  force,  and  attack  us 
like  a  lion  who  sees  an  unsuspecting  prey,  was  the  work 
of  aa  instant.  Fortunately,  his  superior  numbers  were  ex- 
hausted by  a  long  march,  while  our  fewer  men  all  were 
fresh.  We  therefore  received  the  shock  of  the  first  onset 
without  giving  way,  and  a  bloody  combat  immediately 
ensued. 

As  usual,  the  mamlukes  of  each  diflFerent  house  at  first 
remained  in  close  order  round  their  chiefs ;  and  I  there- 
fore fought  next  m_v  patron,  until,  woimded  in  the  shoulder, 
he  was  carried  to  the  rear,  when  I  acquired  greater  lati- 
tude of  movements.  Spying  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight 
a  son  of  Osnian's,  to  whom,  for  many  a  treacherous  ac- 
tion, I  long  had  owed  an  adequate  return,  I  took  aim  at 
him  while  firing  his  carbine,  and  lodged  a  ball  in  his  side, 
which  made  liim  bite  the  dust.  One  of  Elfi's  hairbrained 
children  instantly  sprang  forward  to  revenge  his  friend's 
death,  and  made  a  thrust  at  his  slayer.  I  received  the 
stroke  on  my  yatagan,  and  with  a  well-timed  blow  sent 
him  too  reeling  out  of  the  field.  He  scarce  had  gone 
fifty  yards  ere  he  fainted  and  fell.  Another  myrmidon 
of  Mourad's  now  advanced  :  Assad  was  his  name.  Proud 
of  his  size  and  strength,  he  deemed  himself  secure  of 
victory  before  he  fought ;  and  in  order  to  give  greater 
splendour  to  his  triumph,  prefaced  his  assault  with  the 
most  insulting  language.  The  clash  of  swords  soon 
followed ;  and  here  again  mine  proved  the  better  blade. 
My  adversary's  sabre  was  shivered  in  his  hand,  and  him- 
self uniiorsed  and  brought  to  the  ground.  Maddened  by 
his  previous  taunts,  1  was  going  to  despatch  him ;  but  he 
expressed  such  contrition,  and  begged  mercy  so  piteously, 
that  I  agreed,  though  reluctantly,  to  spare  his  worthless 
life.  Scarce  had  I  turned  my  head  to  call  to  my  people, 
when  the  wretch,  deliberately  taking  aim,  fired  his  pistol 
at  me.  The  ball  grazed  my  cheek,  and  only  tore  my 
turban.  I  now  dismounted  to  plunge  my  dagger  to  the 
scoundrel's  heart ;  but  in  tlie  very  act  of  lifting  my  pon- 
iard, a  bullet  struck  my  hand,  and  paralyzed  my  fingers. 
I  dropped  my  handjar:  and  Assad— with  a  sudden  jirk, 
tearing  liimself  away  from  my  mamlukes,  who  already 
were  seizing  hold  of  the  traitor— darted  afresh  amid  the 
ihickest  of  the  combat,  and  slunk  out  of  sight. 

In  despair  at  tliis  grievous  disappointment,  I  now  vaulted 
back  into  my  saddle,  but,  from  the  uselessness  of  my 
left  hand,  v/us  unable  cither  to  hold  ray  reims  or  wield 


ANASTASIUS.  851 

my  firearms.  Soon,  therefore,  my  horse,  misupported 
by  his  rider,  came  down  completely.  Thrown  off  and 
lamed  by  the  fall,  I  was  obliged,  for  some  time,  to  defend 
myself  against  a  mamluke  enemy  with  one  knee  to  the 
ground.  While  with  my  yatagan  I  parried  his  unceasing 
blows,  another  of  his  party  tried  to  ride  over  and  trample 
me  to  death :  but  spile  of  his  rider's  urging  voice  and  stir- 
rup, the  generous  steed  refused  to  obey ;  and  my  own 
horse,  who  had  got  upon  his  legs  again,  now  exhausted 
with  loss  of  blood,  fell  dead  by  my  side,  and  served  me 
as  a  rampart.  Yet  still  my  helpless  state  must  soon  have 
left  me  at  the  mercy  of  my  well-mounted  adversary,  had 
not,  at  this  juncture,  my  own  mamlukes  dashed  through 
the  adverse  current,  and  come  to  my  assistance.  One  of 
them  struck  my  enemy  in  the  loins.  He  fell  backward 
in  his  saddle,  was  immediately  pulled  off  his  horse,  and  I 
raised  up  and  mounted  in  his  stead.  I  could,  however, 
only  hold  my  reins  with  my  teeth,  and  guide  my  courser 
with  my  sword,  while  raging  with  the  thirst  of  vengeance, 
I  flew  from  rank  to  rank  to  seek  the  traitor  Assad. 

Already  the  falling  dusk  seemed  to  deny  every  act  of 
personal  animosity,  and  to  permit  a  continuance  only  of 
random  blows  and  general  slaughter.  My  search,  there- 
fore, was  fnutless  !  Ere  yet,  however,  the  closing  night 
had  dropped  its  sable  curtain  entirely  over  the  combat, 
a  colossal  form,  soaring  like  the  spirit  of  evil,  caught  my 
searching  eye.  Instantly  I  threw  myself  down,  stooped 
close  to  the  ground,  penetrated  athwart  the  surrounding 
phalanx,  and,  while  the  haught  j-  chief  was  giving  a  signal, 
struck  at  his  face  one  single  furious  blow.  A  second  must 
have  wrought  my  own  death ;  I  therefore  tarried  not,  but, 
under  my  horse's  belly,  assisted  by  the  darkness,  made  ray 
escape.  At  this  instant  a  loud  and  long  shout  of  terror 
announced  to  all  his  men  that  Mourad  was  wounded ; 
and  his  liated  blood,  drawn  by  me,  formed  the  last  event 
of  the  expiring  battle. 

Our  principal  apprehension  had  been  all  along  lest  Ibra- 
him, apprized  of  the  engagement,  should  sally  fortli,  and 
support  his  colleague  from  the  citadel.  Probably  he 
wished  not  to  render  his  rival's  success  too  complete ; 
and  Mourad  himself,  now  having  had  enough  of  fighting, 
no  longer  opposed  our  retreat.  He  entered  the  city, 
while  wc,  gathering  up  our  most  distinguished  dead,  to  be 
consigned  to  vulgar  earth  on  the  road,  continued  oui 
march,  uninterrupted! v,  all  night.    Suleiman,  who  suf- 


352  ANASTASIUS. 

fered  much  from  his  wound,  was  carried  in  a  litter;  and  I. 
with  my  hand  in  a  sling,  and  my  leg  bandaged  up  figured 
on  a  jaded  hack.  I  regretted  the  richly  caparisoned  steed 
of  my  enemy  Assad,  which  I  one  moment  had  regarded  as 
mine ;  I  still  more  grievously  regretted  the  home-thrust 
of  my  dagger,  which  I  hoped  to  have  made  his :  but  my 
successful  aim  at  Mourad  himself,  the  ugly  gash  imprinted 
on  his  rugged  jaw,  and  the  streams  of  blood  gushing 
from  his  hateful  face,  though  sights  which  I  had  not  had 
leisure  to  enjoy  in  the  original,  were  a  rich  treat  for  mj 
imagination ! 

Several  years  had  elapsed  between  the  first  combat  I 
witnessed  and  this  last  engagement.  In  both  I  was 
allowed  to  have  shown  some  valour :  but  how  different 
were  the  sentiments  which,  on  these  different  occasions, 
nerved  my  arm !  In  the  fight  against  the  Arnaoots,  I  only 
obeyed  a  vague  desire  to  gain  applause,  and  to  vent  the 
empty  ferment  of  my  youthful  ambition.  I  fought  the 
foe  as  I  would  have  hunted  the  beast  of  prey ;  no  persona! 
rancour  gave  venom  to  the  wounds  I  dealt.  Here,  on  the 
contrary,  every  feeling  of  personal  interest,  animosity, 
and  revenge,  directed  my  aim,  and  dwelt  on  my  blows. 
After  hewing  down  my  enemy,  I  greedily  contemplated 
liis  fall,  and  could  almost  have  wished  to  turn  my  weapon 
round  and  round  in  his  wound  :  my  soul  seemed  to  thirst 
after  his  blood  as  after  a  refreshing  stream ;  and  when 
the  hot  spring  gushed  from  Mourad's  own  swelling  veins, 
I  could  have  dared  death  itself  to  riot  in  the  crimson  tide  ! 

Just  at  the  period  when  the  animosity  between  the 
insurgents  and  the  chiefs  of  Cairo  was  at  its  height ;  when 
both  parties  had  sealed  their  enmity  with  their  blood; 
when  all  chance  of  reconciliation  seemed  for  ever  at  an 
end,  arose  that  never-failing  healer  of  iiUernal  feuds,  the 
fear  of  an  external  enemy.  A  report,  bearing  the  stamp 
of  undoubted  authority,  suddenly  spread  itself  through 
Cairo,  that  Hassan  was  making  immense  preparations  at 
Constantinople  for  reinstating  Ismail.  Immediately  the 
terrified  leaders  sent  after  our  fugitive  troop  proposals  of 
mutual  forgiveness.  The  bearers,  intrusted  with  no  \es>. 
credentials  than  Mourad's  own  ring  and  chaplet,  reached 
us  the  sixth  day  of  our  march,  in  the  midst  of  the  moun- 
tains. The  sole  indispensable  condition  of  the  reconcilia- 
tion they  offered  was  a  sacrifice  of  a  feu-  of  our  bey's 
trustiest  followers,  whose  spoil  was  wanted  to  feed  the 
rapacity  of  their  own  mamlukes.    It  is  true,  the  interests 


ANASTASIUS.  25S 

of  these  very  adherents  had  been  the  ostensible  pretext 
of  the  rupture  :  but  they  were  readily  given  up  as  a  peace- 
ofiering,  when  deemed  the  only  obstacle  to  renewed  har- 
mony. 

Among  the  appointments  to  be  ceded  was  mine.  Su- 
leiman, indeed,  proposed  a  commutation ;  but  whethei 
Mourad  knew  the  author  of  his  wound,  or  from  whatevei 
other  cause,  he  would  hear  of  no  other  exchange.  My 
father-in-law,  therefore,  ended,  like  otlier  politicians,  by 
yielding  to  circumstances.  He  declared  himself  unable 
alone  to  resist  the  importunities  of  all  the  other  beys,  and 
I  was  summoned  to  give  up  my  possessions.  Thus 
were  realized  the  effects  which  I  apprehended  from  the 
loss  of  my  wife. 

My  patron  had  only  yielded,  he  said,  to  superior  force ; 
T  thought  it  fair  to  follow  his  example.  When,  therefore, 
the  storm  burst  forth,  I  gathered  together  my  trustiest 
followers,  and,  instead  of  returning  to  Cairo,  and  express- 
ing my  readiness  to  be  stripped — as  I  was  expected,  in 
deference  to  higher  interests,  to  do — struck  across  the 
country,  passed  the  river,  and  reached  my  kiacheflik. 
There,  intrenched  in  the  best  manner  I  was  able,  I  bade 
my  antagonists  take  the  trouble  of  turning  me  out. 

During  a  whole  month  they  seemed  averse  from  the 
task,  until  at  last  I  thought  myself  forgotten;  but  on 
the  fifth  week  after  my  arrival,  I  received  irtelligencc 
that  my  successor  was  coming.  He  was  accompanied 
by  a  force  so  very  superior  to  what  I  could  muster,  that 
I  gave  up  the  kiacheflik  for  lost,  and  only  resolved  to 
make  the  new  kiachef  pay  a  handsome  admission  fee. 
Collecting  all  my  cash,  jewels,  and  other  valuables,  1 
loaded  with  them  half  a  dozen  camels  and  dromedaries, 
freed  my  slaves,  gave  away  my  fixtures,  and,  followed  by 
my  small  troop  of  faithful  mamlukes,  posted  myself  iii 
ambush  a  few  leagues  from  the  town,  in  a  place  where  I 
knew  the  enemy  must  pass.  It  was  an  elevated  plain, 
advantageously  suited  for  my  purpose.  In  front  rose  a 
hillock  covered  with  ruined  koobbehs,*  cactus  hedges, 
and  date-trees,  which  screened  us  completely,  while  be- 
hind lay  an  open  country,  and  a  kalish,  with  a  bridge- 
of  boats  and  boards,  wliich  secured  our  retreat. 

After  a  whole  night  of  tedious  expectation,  we  early 
mthe  morning  heard  the  tramp  of  horsemen,  and  presently 

*  Koobbehs— sepulchral  cbapeU. 


354  ANASTASIUS. 

the  enemy  came  in  sight.  By  his  loose  and  straggling 
order  of  march,  it  was  plain  he  had  no  suspicion  of  cm 
design :  and  soon  the  troop  approached  so  near  oui 
masked  battery  that  we  could  discern  the  features  of 
every  individual.  Heavens!  how  n.y  heart  bounded  when 
in  the  chief — in  the  stranger  who  came  to  dispossess  me — 
I  recognised  the  identical  Assad  who  had  tried  to  take 
away  my  life  as  my  reward  for  saving  his  own.  I  im- 
mediately made  a  signal  to  my  followers  to  leave  in  ray 
own  hands  the  soothing  task  of  just  revenge,  took  the 
best  aim  I  was  aide,  and  fired.  A  general  discharge 
instantaneously  followed  :  but  I  had  the  inexpressible 
satisfaction  of  seeing  Assad  fall  first,  though  several  of 
his  troop  soon  bit  the  dust  around  liim.  Tlie  remainder, 
unable  to  guess  the  force  of  their  invisible  assailants, 
immediately  took  flight  and  dispersed  in  all  directions. 

Save  the  place  which  my  men  occupied,  there  was  not 
a  spot  in  sight  where  the  fugitives  coidd  halt  and  rally. 
The  rout  of  those  that  remained  sound,  therefore,  enabled 
me  to  approach  the  wounded.  Assad,  though  weltering 
in  his  blood,  was  still  alive ;  but  already  the  angel  of 
death  flapped  liis  dark  wings  over  the  traitor's  brow. 
Hearing  footsteps  advance,  he  made  an  effort  to  raise  Iris 
head,  probably  in  hopes  of  approaching  succour :  but 
beholding — but  recognising  only  me,  he  felt  that  no  hopes 
remained,  and  gave  a  shriek  of  despair.  Life  was  flow- 
ing out  so  fast,  that  I  had  only  to  stand  still — my  arms 
folded  in  each  other — and  with  a  steadfast  eye  to  watch 
its  departure.  One  instant  I  saw  my  vanquished  foe. 
agitated  by  an  unceasing  tremor,  open  his  eyes  and  dart 
at  me  a  glance  of  impotent  rage ;  but  soon  he  averted 
them  again,  then  gnashed  his  teeth,  convulsively  clenched 
his  fist,  and  expired.  I  spurned  the  lifeless  wretch  with 
my  foot. 

Wishing  now  for  nothing  more,  I  only  sought  the 
speediest  retreat,  fell  back  in  all  haste,  and  got  to  the 
westward  of  the  beaten  track,  into  the  boundless  desert. 
Several  of  my  camels  were  intercepted  by  the  Arabs,  and 
my  men  sufl'ered  cruelly  from  missing  a  well :  but  falling 
in  soon  after  with  the  Nubian  caravan,  our  distress  was 
relieved,  though  at  the  expense  of  half  my  remaining 
treasure.  At  last,  after  performing  a  prodigious  circuit, 
during  which  we  experienced  incredible  hardships,  we 
contrived  to  reach  Es-souan,  and  joined  the  exiled  beys 
Ismail  and  Hassan. 


I  ANASTASIUS.  2oS 

Never  had  the  insurgents,  even  when  in  most  open 
hostility  with  the  chiefs  of  Cairo,  formed  a  common  cause 
with  the  party  in  tlie  Said.  Ti'oo  deeply  rooted  a  jealousy 
divided  the  houses  of  Mohammed  and  of  Aly.  The  first 
and  only  attempt  at  a  union  of  interests  was  that  which 
followed  the  battle  of  the  Mokhadem,  and  was  foiled  by 
the  reconciliation  of  which  I  became  the  victim.  At  en- 
mity now  with  every  party  in  the  capital,  I  was  well 
received  by  tlie  beys  of  Upper  E^-pt.  yl  confirmed  to 
them  the  welcome  intelligence  of  th»  capitan-pasha's 
preparations,  and  engaged  soon  to  return  with  Ismail  to 
Cairo.  Meantime,  apprehending  that  I  might,  in  spite 
of  appearances,  be  deemed  a  spy  only  upon  the  ex- 
schaich-el-belled,  I  made  over  to  him  my  few  remaining 
mamlukes,  and,  rid  of  this  burtlien,  determined  to  with- 
draw from  Egypt,  until  the  grand  admiral  should  actually 
be  on  his  way.  Having,  however,  still  some  goods  and 
valuables,  I  kept  my  design  a  secret,  lest  my  kind  friends 
should  make  my  property  a  keepsake.  After  a  few  short 
rambles,  to  wean  them  by  degrees  from  tlie  pleasure  of 
seeing  me,  I  at  last  undertook  a  longer  flight.  On  a  fine 
starlight  night,  of  which  there  is  no  lack  near  the  cata- 
racts, accompanied  only  by  two  trusty  servants,  mounted 
like  myself  on  dromedaries,  we  slipped  away,  and  agaiit 
plunged  into  tlie  desert. 

By  a  forced  march  I  reached  Gieneh.  Its  kiachef  had 
formerly  been  my  friend,  and  what  deserves  to  be 
recorded,  still  showed  himself  my  well-wisher.  He  gave 
me  letters  for  his  lieutenant  at  Aidab.  I  travelled  across 
the  sands  to  this  seaport,  by  the  Franks  called  Cosseir, 
and  found  its  road  full  of  zaVms*  from  Djedda,  freighted 
for  Suez,  but  which  had  lost  the  season.  One  of  them  I 
engaged  to  carry'  me  across  the  Red  Sea ;  -and  bidding 
Egypt,  with  its  plagues  as  well  as  its  blessings — its  mud 
and  misery,  its  locusts  and  lizards,  as  well  as  its  per- 
fumed rice  and  purple  dates,  its  golden  grapes  and  azure 
nileh — a  reluctant  adieu,  with  heavy  heart  embarked. 

The  vessel  was  wretclied,  and  the  passage  stormy;  but 
after  expecting  to  founder  on  every  coral  reef  in  ourwaj', 
we  at  last  providentially  ran  safe  into  Djedda  harboui. 
On  stepping,  after  so  many  perils  by  land  and  by  water, 
on  the  Arab  shore,  I  could  not  help  exclaiming,  "  My 
native  land  has  renounced  me ;  the  coimtry  of  my  adop- 

*  Zaims— vessels  ythich  navigate  the  Red  Sea. 


256  ANASTASICS. 

tion  has  cast  me  off:  be  thou,  O  strange  soil,  the  wan- 
derer's less  fickle  friend !" 

I  had  left  a  storm  gathering  in  Egypt,  of  which  I  since 
have  thanked  God  I  witnessed  not  the  bursting.  Already, 
previous  to  my  departure,  the  consequences  of  the  scarcity 
had  begun  to  appear  in  many  places :  but  it  was  only 
after  I  left  the  country  that  the  famine  attained  its  full 
force;  and  such  was,  in  spite  of  every  expedient  of 
human  wisdom,  or  appeal  to  Divine  mercy,  the  progres- 
sive fury  of  the  •scourge,  that  at  last  the  schaichs  and 
other  regular  ministers  of  worship,— supposing  the  Deity 
to  have  become  deaf  to  their  entreaties  or  incensed  at 
their  presumption, — no  longer  themselves  ventured  to 
implore  offended  Heaven,  and  henceforth  only  addressed 
the  Almighty  through  the  interceding  voices  of  tender 
infants;  in  hopes  that,  though  callous  to  the  suffering  of 
corrupt  man.  Providence  still  might  listen  to  the  suppli- 
cations of  untainted  childhood,  and  grant  to  the  innocent 
prayers  of  babes  what  it  denied  to  the  agonizing  cry  of 
beings  hardened  in  sin.  Led  by  the  imams  to  the  top$ 
of  the  highest  minarets,  little  creatures  from  five  to  ten 
years  of  age  there  raised  to  Heaven  their  pure  hands  and 
feeble  voices;  and  while  all  the  countless  myriads  of 
Cairo,  collected  round  the  fcjot  of  these  lofty  structures, 
observed  a  profound  and  mournful  silence,  they  alone 
were  heard  to  lisp  from  their  slender  summits  entreaties 
for  Divine  mercy.  >ior  did  i^ven  they  continue  to  im- 
plore a  fertility,  which  no  longer  could  save  the  thousands 
of  starving  wretches  already  in  the  pangs  of  death. 
They  only  begged  tliat  a  g.-neral  pestilence  might  speedily 
dehver  them  from  their  lingering  an(i  painful  agony;  and 
when  from  the  gilded  spires  throughout  every  district 
of  the  immense  Masr,  thousands  of  infantine  voices  went 
forth  the  same  instant  to  implore  the  same  sad  boon,  the 
whole  vast  population  below,  with  half-extinguished 
voices,  jointly  answered,  "  So  be  it !" 

The  humble  request  God  in  his  mercy  granted.  The 
plague  followed  the  scanrity,  and  the  contagion  com- 
pleted what  the  famine  had  begun.  The  human  form 
was  swept  away  from  the  surface  of  the  land,  like  the 
shadows  of  darkness  whieh  the  dawn  puts  to  flight. 
ToAvns,  and  villages,  and  hamlets  innumerable  were 
bereft  of  their  tenants  to  a  man.  Tiie  living  became  too 
few  to  bury  the  dead.  Their  own  houses  remained  their 
cemeteries.    Where  long  strings  of  coffins  at  first  had 


ANASTASIUS.  257 

issued  forth,  not  a  solitary  funeral  any  longer  appeared. 
Hundreds  of  families,  who  had  fled  from  famine  to  Syria, 
were  overtaken  by  ttie  plague  in  the  midst  of  their  jour- 
ney, and  with  their  dead  bodies  marked  their  route 
through  the  desert.  Kgypt,  smitten  hv  the  two-fold 
visitation,  almost  ceased  to  appear  inhabited ;  and  both 
plagues  at  last  disappeared  for  want  of  further  victims 
to  slay.  * 


CHAPTER  XXn. 

I  WAS  near  the  Holy  City,  and  had  all  my  time  at  ray 
disposal.  Could  it  be  better  employed  than  in  seizing  so 
favourable  an  opportunity  of  auquirmg  the  title  and  the 
prerogatives  of  a  hadjeeT*  1  therefore  determined  to 
perform  in  its  utmost  strictness  the  pilgrimage  imposed 
on  all  true  believers  ;  and  no  soonei  had  set  foot  on  shore 
at  Djcdda,  than  1  immediately  i)roceeded  on  to  Mekkah, 
where  1  achieved  in  solitude  my  first  round  of  devotions 
at  the  Kaaba.f  It  \>i  true  thai,  as  on  this  globe  at  least 
the  holiest  places  are  not  always  the  most  agreeable,  1 
asain  returned  as  fast  back  to  Djedda;  but  it  vvas  only  to 
wait  until  the  coorban  bayramj  should  bring  together  at 
Mekkah  the  whole  assemblage  of  caravans  and  pilgrims; 
when  I  purposed  to  revisit  the  ruby  of  Paradise,  and  to 
join  the  great  body  of  hadjees  in  the  more  solemn  rites 
i)erformed  at  that  period  under  its  shadow. 

Even  in  the  busier  seaport  of  Djerlda  itself,  it  must  be 
owned,  my  pursuits  scarce  soared  above  the  anuiscnients 
of  a  paltry  coffee-house,  where  I  went  every  morning  to 
smoke  my  pipe,  drink  my  cup  of  kisln,^  and  play  my 
irame  of  chess  with  a  famous  hand  from  Surat ;  always 

*  Hadicp— a  pilgrim;  from  hadj,  pilgrimsee:  all  Mohammedans  arc  cti 
ioined  by  iho  prophet  to  perform  that  to  Mekkali.  m  person,  or  at  least  by 

'"^t'kaaba-the  holy  house  of  Mekkah,  originally  built  by  the  angels  in  Para- 
ai«e  ■  in  its  wall  is  inserted  the  black  stone,  probably  of  atmospheric  origin, 
ilready  worshipped  bv  the  Arabs  previous  to  Mohammed,  who  found  the 
superstition  in  its  favour  too  deeply  rooted  to  contend  with.  ,,    ,  „r  ih^ 

t  Coorban  Bay  ram— festival  which  takes  place  forty  days  after  that  ol  tn« 
Bavram.  ^      .    , 

•\  Kislir— a  beverage  much  used  m  Arabia. 


258  ANASTASIPS. 

hoping  to  return  my  adversary's  infallible  checkmate. 
These  harmless  pastimes  were  varied  by  a  turn -on  the 
quay  to  see  the  unlading  of  goods  and  monsters  from  the 
Red  Sea ;  and  by  the  monotonous  tales  of  a  poor  schaicli 
of  the  neighbourhood,  who,  for  my  paras,  procured  me, 
if  not  any  very  delightful  waking  visions,  at  least  some 
very  sound  naps. 

An  accidental  rencounter  with  an  inhabitant  of  Djedda, 
Sidi  Malek,  for  whom  I  had  retrovered  at  Cairo  some  prop- 
erty purloined  by  Hassan's  people  on  their  visit  to  this 
city,  promised  me  a  little  change  of  scene.  Our  first 
meeting  was  in  the  street.  "  I  knew,"  exclaimed  Malek 
on  seeing  me,  "that  this  would  be  a  day  of  rejoicing! 
The  word  Allah,  heard  the  first  thing  in  the  morning, 
never  fails  to  bring  good  fortune !  I  shall  not,  however, 
think  mine  complete  until  you  leave  your  okkal,  and  take 
up  your  abode  under  my  roof."  So  easy  a  mode  of 
making  my  friend  happy  1  could  not  in  conscience  de- 
cline. I  collected  my  things,  and  followed  Malek  to  his 
habitation. 

My  acceptance  of  the  sidi's  hospitahties,  however, 
soon  turned  out  a  greater  burthen  than  I  suspected.  Ac- 
cording to  Uerwish,  tlie  stargazer  at  Constantinople, 
whom  I  left  meditating  how  to  undermine  the  aqueduct, 
it  was  only  the  most  distinguished  among  the  heavenly 
bodies  that  troubled  themselves  about  the  fate  of  man : 
but  in  the  opinion  of  Mah-k,  everv  stone,  beast,  and  plant 
on  the  surface  of  the  earth  presumed  to  meddle  with  our 
destmy.  Nothing  animated  or  inanimate  could  be  named 
which  exerted  not  over  our  being  a  mysterious  influence. 
From  every  occurrence,  however  trivial,  some  omen 
might  be  extracted,  if  one  only  knew  the  way ;  and  that 
way  my  friend  .Malek  was  deteiinined  to  find  out,  cost 
what  it  might.  Not  that  in  the  course  of  his  research 
he  ever  dreamed  of  looking  for  such  connexions  between 
cause  and  effect  as  nmst  arise  from  the  intrinsic  nature 
of  things  and  the  palpable  relationships  between  divers 
objects  of  the  creation :  such  a  course  would  have  been 
derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  liis  pursuit.  His  science 
only  admitted  what  was  totally  out  of  the  course  of 
nature  and  beyond  the  reach  of  liuman  understanding. 
The  occult  virtues  which  Malek  sought  in  objects  were 
always  precisely  those  which  common  sense  would  never 
have  hit  upon.  Every  secret  aeency  was  to  have  in  it 
Bomcthing  savouring  of  a  prodigy,  which  chance  alone 


ANASTASIUfe.  259 

could  disclose.  Accordinp;ly,  the  less  foundation  tliere 
appeared  for  a  peculiar  belief,  the  more  pertinaciously 
Malek  clung  to  it ;  and  while  he  looked  upon  men  of  real 
science — astronomers,  physicians,  and  mathematicians — 
as  paltry  geniuses  wiiu  could  not  penetrate  beyond  the 
surface  of  tilings,  he  considered  astrologers,  jugglers,  and 
mountebanks  as  the  only  men  of  real  and  sublime  talents. 
To  Aristotle  and  Galen  he  would  probably  have  given  but 
an  indifferent  reception,  but  tlie  most  errant  fortuneteller 
might  under  his  roof  call  for  whatever  he  pleased.  His 
house  was  a  sort  of  asylum  for  all  decayed  mountebanks. 
One  party  out  of  gratitude  for  his  kindness  recommended 
another:  and  though  in  other  respects  rather  a  strict 
Mohammedan,  Sidi  Malek  immediately  made  a  favourite 
of  every  dirty  Jew,  Gentile,  or  Christian  who  had  the 
least  pretensions  to  occult  knowledge.  The  impostor 
ever  found  a  hearty  welcome  while  he  condescended  to 
accept  of  the  sidi's  hospitalities,  and  never  was  dismissed 
without  a  handsome  viaticum.  "Because  weak  man 
happens  to  err  in  one  particular,  can  he  be  right  in  no 
other  1"  Malek  used  to  ask ;  and  on  the  strength  of  this 
truth,  he  believed  every  lie  that  was  uttered. 

\Vhile  merely  theoretical,  these  opinions  might  have 
been  entertaining  enough ;  but  reduced  into  practice,  they 
rendered  Malck's  society  very  irksome.  His  own  con- 
versation was  incoherent,  mysterious,  and  often  unintel- 
ligible ;  and  he  took  it  much  amiss  when  his  friends 
wished  to  converse  on  what  they  understood.  On  the 
least  appearance  of  incredulity  with  respect  to  his 
favourite  tenets,  his  passion  knew  no  bounds.  Always 
on  the  watch  for  every  chance  word  or  gesture  that 
might  be  construed  into  a  prognostic  either  good  or  bad, 
he  was  constantly  floating  between  idle  hopes  and  silly 
fears,  and  conceived  the  strangest  predilections  or  the 
most  unfounded  antipathies.  My  nose  unfortmiately  had 
a  curve  which  promised  unconnnon  capabilities  for  the 
occult  sciences  if  but  properly  cultivated  ;  and  Malek  de- 
termined they  should  not  lie  fallow  for  want  of  any 
pains  which  he  could  bestow. 

The  sidi's  stationary  oracle  was  a  soothsayer  of  es- 
tablished repute,  residing  in  one  of  the  remotest  sul)nrbs 
of  Djedda,  and  who  seldom  condescended  to  visit  from 
home,  but  waited  to  be  worshipped  in  his  own  cave  or 
temple.  For  the  sake  of  peace  I  suflered  myself  to  be 
conducted  to  this  personage,  the  odour  of  whose  fame,  I 


260  ANASTASirs. 

was  told,  extended  all  the  world  over.  It  might  be  so: 
and  certain  it  is  that  1  was  nearly  suffocated  on  entering 
his  den.  To  say  the  truth,  however,  this  sanctuarj" 
smelt  more  of  things  below  than  of  the  stars  above; 
but  I  had  promised  to  introduce  myself,  and  accordinglj 
groped  my  way  tiU  I  reached  the  inmost  recesses  of  the 
unsavoury  abode. 

There  I  found  the  wizard  seated  in  state  on  an  old 
clothes-chest.  A  sluflFed  crocodile  canopied  his  head  ;  a 
serpent's  skin  of  large  dimensions  was  spread  under  his 
feet.  On  every  part  of  the  wall  glittered  potent  charms 
and  formidable  spells.  They  had  their  names  written 
over  them  for  the  information  of  the  beholder,  and  hair 
of  unborn  dives,*  heart  of  maiden  vipers,  Uver  of  the 
bird  roc,t  fat  of  dromedary's  haunch,  and 'bladders  filled 
with  the  wind  simoom,|  were  among  the  least  rare  and 
curious.  Of  the  wizard's  own  fonn  and  features  so  little 
was  discernible  that  I  almost  doubted  w^hether  he  had 
any.  An  immense  pair  of  spectacles  filled  up  all  the  space 
between  his  cloak  and  his  turban.  These  spectacles 
were  in  constant  motion,  like  a  weathercock,  from  left 
to  right  and  from  right  to  left,  between  a  celestial  globe 
robbed  of  half  its  constellations  by  the  worms,  and  a 
Venice  almanac  despoiled  of  half  its  pages  by  the  wear 
and  tear  of  fingers.  Before  the  astrologer  lay  expanded 
his  table  of  nativities. 

Opposite  the  master  shone  with  a  reflected  light  his 
apprentice,  crouched,  like  a  marmoset,  on  a  lov/  stool. 
This  youth,  with  his  little  pair  of  round  sparkling  eyes 
immoveably  fixed  on  his  principal,  sat  watching  all  his 
gestures,  and  never  stirred  from  his  station  except  to 
hand  him  his  compasses,  to  turn  his  globe,  or  to  pick  up 
his  spectacles,  which  for  want  of  the  support  of  a  nose, 
came  off  every  moment.  After  each  of  these  evolutions 
he  immediately  ran  back  to  his  pedestal,  and  resumed 
iiis  immoveable  attitude  until  the  next  call  for  his  activity. 
So  complete  a  silence  was  maintained  all  the  time  on 
both  sides,  that  one  would  have  sworn  every  motion  of 
this  pantomime  must  have  been  preconcerted. 

Fearful  of  disturbing  the  influence  of  some  planet,  or 
confusing  the  calculations  of  some  nativity,  I  myself 
remained  a  while  silent  and  motionless  at  the  entrance  of 

♦  Dives— celebrated  magicians. 

t  The  bird  roc— a  rabiiloiui  bird  of  prodigious  size. 

J  Simoom— the  {loisonous  wind  of  the  desert. 


ANASTASIUS.  261 

the  sanctuary ;  but  fmding-  that  I  might  stay  there  till 
doomsday  if  I  waited  for  an  invitation  to  advance,  1  at 
last  grew  impatient,  marched  up  to  the  wizard,  put  my 
mouth  to  his  ear,  and  roared  out  as  loud  as  I  could, — "  I 
suppose  I  am  addressing  the  learned  Schaich-Aly  !*' 

Upon  tliis  the  astrologer  gave  a  start  like  one  suddenly 
roused  from  some  profound  meditation,  turned  his  head 
slowly  round,  as  if  it  moved  by  clockwork,  and  after  first 
leisurely  surveying  me  several  times  from  head  to  foot, 
and  again  from  foot  to  head,  at  last  said,  in  a  snuffling 
but  emphatic  tone,  drawling  every  word  in  order  to  make 
what  was  not  short  in  itself  longer  still, — "  If  you  mean 
the  celebrated  Schaich  Abou  Salech,  Ibn-Mohammed, 
Ibn-Aly  el  Djeddawee  el  Schafei,  schaich  of  the  flowery- 
mosque  and  the  cream  of  the  astrologers  of  the  age,  who 
holds  familiar  converse  w  ith  the  stars,  and  to  whom  the 
moon  herself  imparts  all  her  secrets, — I  am  he !" 

"  And  if  you  should  happen  to  want  the  best  beloved 
of  the  pupils  of  this  luminaiy  of  tiie  world,  tlie  young  bud 
of  the  science  of  which  he  is  the  full-blown  pride,  the 
nascent  dawn  of  his  meridian  splendour,"  added  from  his 
pedestal  the  little  marmoset, — "  I  am  he  !" 

"  Hail,"  answered  1,  "  to  the  full-blown  pride  of  as- 
trology, and  hail  to  its  nascent  bud !  May  they  be 
pleased  to  inform  me  what  I  am,  whence  I  come,  whither 
i  am  going,  and  whether  or  not  I  may  hope  to  recover 
what  I  have  lately  lost  ]" 

"  Young  man,"  replied  the  wizard,  "  you  lump  together 
a  heap  of  questions,  each  of  which,  singly,  would  take  a 
twelvemonth  to  answer  at  length.  Besides,  it  is  not  in 
my  own  person  I  inform  people  of  such  things.  You 
cannot  be  ignorant  tliat  the  voice  of  prophecy  has  ceased 
with  the  holy  one  of  IMekkah.  I  am  but  the  humble  in- 
terpreter of  the  stars.  It  is  true,  that  my  vast  knowledge 
of  these  celestial  oracles  enables  me  to  understand  their 
language  as  clearly  as  my  mother  tongue ;  and  that  is 
what  enables  me  to  know  to  a  tittle  all  that  was,  and  is, 
and  is  to  be.  I  therefore  may  forthwith,  if  you  please, 
ascertain  from  the  chance  opening  of  the  holy  book,  in 
what  way  the  heavenly  bodies  choose  to  be  interrogated." 

I  agreed.  The  doctor  performed  his  ablutions,  and 
the  dawn  of  his  meridian  splendour  shook  the  dust  off 
his  gown.  Thus  cleansed,  at  least  externally,  he  mum- 
bled a  prayer  or  two,  and  then  with  great  solemnity 
opened  the  Koran. 


262  ANASTASItTS. 

"Child,"  said  he,  after  having-  inspected  the  page, 
"the  admirable  and  important  chapter  on  which  Provi- 
dence has  willed  the  eye  of  its  servant  to  fall,  treats  of 
the  balance  Wezn.*  .  This  proves  in  the  clearest  man- 
ner— but,  ere  I  proceed  further,  what  do  you  mean  to 
pay  me  ]" 

"  Two  piastres,"  was  my  answer,  thinking  this  a 
handsome  remuneration.  Not  so  the  wizard:  the  most 
grievous  of  insults  could  not  have  put  him  into  a  greater 
rage.  "  Two  piastres  !"  exclaimed  he ;  "  why,  in  the 
quietest  of  times,  and  when  a  man's  fortune  m.ight 
almost  be  told  him  blindfold,  this  would  scarce  have  been 
an  aspre  each  adventure ;  and  now  that  the  world  is  all 
turned  topsy-turvy,  that  men  do  not  know  whether  they 
stand  on  their  heads  or  heels ;  now  that  women  wage 
war,  kings  turn  philosophers,  and  high-priests  stroll 
about  the  country ;  now  that  the  grand  lama  of  Tibet 
takes  a  turn  to  Pekin,  and  the  pope  of  Rome  travels  post 
to  Vienna,  to  offer  such  a  fee ! — insolent,  absurd,  pre- 
posterous !" 

I  let  the  astrologer's  passion  cool  a  little  first,  and  then 
resumed  the  negotiation.  After  a  good  deal  of  alterca- 
tion, it  ended  in  Ibn-Mohammed,  Ibn-Aly  el  Schafei, 
luidertaking  to  reveal  my  destiny  in  two  days,  for  the 
important  sum  of  one  sequin. 

At  the  appointed  time  I  returned,  but  found  not 
Schaich-Aly,  as  before,  in  solitary  meditation.  He  stood 
surroimded  by  a  whole  line  of  customers ;  and  one  he 
was  abusing  with  such  intemperance  as  seemed  to  terrify 
all  the  rest,  and  make  them  apprehend  tlieir  own  fortunes 
would  fare  the  worse  for  the  incident.  "  Wietch!"  he 
cried  ;  "  to  apply  to  me  for  charms  to  rid  your  house  of 
vermin,  as  if  1  was  in  league  with  vipers  and  with  scor- 
pions !  Go  to  the  wandering  santons  that  ply  in  the 
crossways,  and  presume  not  airain  to  appear  in  the  pres- 
ence of  one  whom  the  very  skies  treat  with  reverence." 

The  frightened  peasant  retired,  and  the  remainder  re- 
ceived tlie  devout  and  wonderful  sentences,  which  only 
required  being  kept  carefully  sealed  up  to  procure  the 
bearer  every  species  of  bliss. 

The  levee  thus  despatched,  the  wizard  turned  to  me. 
"  I  have  completed  your  business,"  cried  he,  handing  me 

♦The  balance  Wezn— in  which,  according  to  the  Koran,  are  weighed 
atan's  good  and  evil  actions. 


ANASTASIUS.  263 

a  dirty  scrawl.  "  But  it  lias  hecn  with  incredible  toil. 
I  cannot  conceive  what  you  have  done  to  the  stars.  At 
the  bare  mention  of  your  name  they  all  began  to  laugli. 
It  has  cost  me  a  whole  night's  labour  to  bring  them  to 
llieir  senses.  Instead  of  one  sequin,  I  ought  to  have  a 
dozen." 

"  Not  one  single  aspre,"  replied  I,  glancing  over  the 
paper,  and  throwing  it  in  the  wizard's  face.  "  The  be- 
ginning informs  me  tliat  I  shall  certainly  die  young  pro- 
vided 1  do  not  grow  old,  and  cannot  fail  to  marry  unless 
I  die  single;  and  as  to  the  end,  it  has  no  meaning 
at  all !" 

"  It  has  a  great  deal  of  meaning,"  replied  the  now  in- 
furiated stargazer ;  "  for  it  means  that  you  certainly 
will  be  hanged." 

"  It  then  also  means,"  replied  I,  "  that  I  need  not  pay  a 
farthing ;  for  if  I  am  not  hanged  you  have  written  a  par- 
cel of  lies,  undeserving  of  a  fee;  and  if  I  am  equally  to 
swing  whether  I  pay  or  not,  1  may  as  well  save  my 
money  and  give  you  a  drubbing  into  the  bargain."  So 
saying,  I  laid  on;  and  the  young  bud  of  science,  who 
tried  to  protect  his  master,  came  in  for  his  share  of  my 
bounty.  All  intercourse  with  the  constellations  now 
being  at  an  end,  I  walked  off,  threatened  alternately  with 
the  justice  of  the  stars,  and  with  that  of  tlte  cadee. 

I  thought  it  best  to  tell  Malek  at  once  how  i  had  be- 
haved to  his  astrologer.  He  began  to  think  less  favour- 
ably of  my  docility,  and  our  friendship  somewhat  cooled- 
Fortunately,  the  season  of  the  festivals  was  at  hand,  and 
[  returned  to  iNIekkah,  to  witness  the  arrival  of  the  pil- 
grims. 

At  Cairo  I  had  viewed  the  departure  of  the  caravan 
from  the  Birket-el-hadj,*  as  a  species  of  public  rejoicing. 
The  whole  of  the  night  which  preceded  tlie  raising  of  the 
tents,  the  camp,  resplendent  with  the  light  of  millions  of 
lamps,  and  re-echoing  with  the  sound  of  thousands  of 
musical  instruments,  seemed  the  special  abode  of  mirth 
and  pleasure;  and  the  ensuing  morning  the  pilgrims, 
fresh,  gay,  full  of  ardour,  and  prancing  along  the  road, 
looked  like  a  procession  of  the  elect  going  to  take  pos- 
•session  of  Paradise. 

-Vlas !  how  dilferent  was  the  appearance  of  this  same 

*  Birket-el-hadj— the  lake  near  Cairo,  on  whose  hanks  the  pilgrims  bound 
for  Mekkah.  assemble. 


264  ANASTASIUS.  ,       V 

caravan,  after  a  long  and  fatiguing  march  across  the 
desert,  on  its  arrival  at  Mekkah  !  Wan,  pale,  worn  out 
with  fatigue  and  thirst,  incrusted  with  a  thick  coat  of  dust 
and  perspiration,  they  who  composed  it  seemed  scarce 
able  to  crawl  to  the  place  of  their  destination.  The  end 
of  their  journey  looked  like  that  of  their  earthly  exist- 
ence ;  or  rather,  one  might  have  fancied  their  bodies 
already  smitten  by  the  spirit  of  the  desert,  and  their 
ghosts  come  disembodied  to  accomplish  their  vow. 

Among  the  arrivals  were  some  of  my  Egyptian  friends ; 
but  their  sufferings  had  so  altered  them,  that  they  were 
obliged  to  syllable  their  names,  ere  I  could  bring  their 
persons  to  my  recollection.  One  had  almost  lost  his  eye- 
sight, another  scarce  preserved  a  remnant  of  his  before 
slender  intellect,  and  a  third  was,  in  consequence  of  con- 
stant alarms,  become  subject  to  such  spasmodic  move- 
ments, that  he  believed  himself  obliged  to  hold  his  head 
fast  by  the  ears,  lest  it  should  turn  round  Uke  a  top  on  his 
body! 

The  holy  house  of  Mekkah  offers  nearly  the  same  dif- 
ference from  that  of  Loretto,  which  the  Mussulman  cliar- 
acter  does  from  that  of  the  Franks.  Everybody  knows 
the  vSanta  Casa  to  be  a  wliirligig  sort  of  thing,  which  in 
its  roving  disposition,  changed  its  abode  half  a  dozen 
times  before  it  could  finally  settle.  The  Kaaba,  on  the 
contrary,  is  a  steady,  demure  sort  of  a  house,  which,  from 
the  day  the  angels  placed  it  where  it  stands,  never  mani- 
fested the  least  inclination  to  move.  Accordingly,  even 
Mohammed  dared  not  meddle  with  its  well-established 
reputation.  It  firmly  stood  its  giound  in  spite  of  his  re- 
form, and  to  this  day  remains  the  chief  object  of  the 
worship  of  his  followers. 

Seven  times  I  walked  round  the  holy  pile  in  full  pro- 
cession, and  seven  times  kissed  the  black  stone,  which 
the  angel  Gabriel  brought  from  paradise  (I  did  not  in- 
quire why)  to  figure  in  its  south-west  corner.  I  next 
went  to  the  valley  of  Menah  to  renounce  Satan  and  his 
works,  by  flinging  a  pebble  over  my  left  shoulder;  nor 
did  I  fail  to  fill  a  pitcher  with  the  brackish  water  of  the 
well  Zem-zem,  to  quench  the  thirst  of  the  soul.  But 
what  I  prized  beyond  all  other  things  were  the  parings  of 
the  besom  that  h;id  swept  the  tabernacle,  which  I  pur- 
chased  from  the  Shcrce  of  Mekkah,*  to  cleanse  the 

*  The  Sherce  of  Mekkah— the  prince  or  sovereign  of  the  country-. 


ANASTASniS.  265 

impurities  of  the  heart,  and  which,  if  mine  were  not  all 
wiped  away,  failed  of  doing  its  duty. 

My  spiritual  concerns  thus  attended  to,  I  turned  to  my 
temporal  affairs,  and  made  an  exchange  of  some  of  the 
property  which  I  brought  from  Egypt,  for  other  and  more 
suitable  articles  ;  for,  be  it  known,  that  the  festivals  of  the 
holy  house  end  in  a  fail,  held  in  the  iimumerable  tents 
that  encircle  it  like  a  girdle,  and  which  brings  together 
merchants  and  goods  from  the  most  opposite  extremities 
of  the  old  hemisphere — very  properly  making  even  the 
worship  of  Mammon  contribute  to  support  the  temple  of 
the  Lord. 

From  Mekkah  I  proceeded  with  the  whole  body  of  the 
pilgrims  to  Medinah,  a  place  somewhat  less  holy,  but  in- 
finitely more  agreeable.  There  (still  intent  on  deeds  of 
holiness)  I  bargained  for  a  little  bit  of  the  fringe  which 
had  adorned  the  prophet's  tomb ;  but  found  the  uncon- 
scionable vender  ask  a  price  I  scarce  would  have  given 
for  Mohammed's  own  two  front  teetli,  kept  in  the  holy 
treasury  at  Constantinople.  Fringeless,  therefore,  I  went 
on  to  Damascus,  with  the  principal  division  of  the  cara- 
van, headed  by  the  celebrated  miscreant  Djezzar,*  pasha 
of  Acre. 

No  extraordinary'  events  that  year  signalized  the  home- 
ward journey  of  the  hadj  rf  for  I  reckon  not  as  such  tlie 
hundreds  of  camels  tliat  died  every  day  of  fatigue  on  the 
road,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the  Schaich  of  Sardieh 
who  furnished  them,  and  to  the  great  delight  of  his  loyal 
subjects,  who  cut  them  up  and  ate  them  ;  and  still  less 
do  I  reckon  as  such  the  thousands  of  pilgrims  that  gave  up 
the  ghost  from  the  same  cause,  to  the  annoyance  I  fear 
of  no  one  but  themselves ;  and  to  the  unspeakable  satis- 
faction of  the  conducting  pasha,  to  whom  their  property 
devolved. 

For  niy  own  part,  as  I  observed  mortality  to  be,  some- 
how, rifest  among  the  richest  pilgrims,  and  was  still  pos- 
sessed of  some  valuable  luggage  myself,  I  continued 
during  the  whole  of  the  journey  particularly  careful  of 
ray  health.  I  ate  no  made  dishes,  knowing  them  to  be 
heating ;  and  abstained  from  brewed  beverage,  as  apt  to 
attack  the  bowels  :  but  preferred  the  simplest  fare,  how- 
ever coarse,   and   drank   plain   water,  though   ever  so 

*  Pjeziar— whom  it  fdl  to  our  lot  to  defend  against  Buonajmrte. 
t  The  Hadj -or  caravan  of  pilgrims. 

Vol.  1.— M 


266  ANASTASITJ3. 

muddy.  By  means  of  this  regimen  I  escaped,  thank 
God  I  all  the  bad  effects  of  the  journey.  A  more  difficult 
task  than  that  of  avoiding  the  consequence  of  the  climate 
was  in  my  opinion  that  of  eluding  the  overpowering  atten- 
tions of  the  Bosniac  guard*  of  the  Emir  Hadj.  These 
gentlemen  were  paid  for  protecting  the  property  of  the 
pilgrims,  and  it  is  but  doing  them  justice  to  say,  they 
could  scarcely  have  acted  otherwise  than  they  did  if  it 
had  been  their  own.  A  delibashf  of  the  pasha  in  par- 
ticular, used  to  show  such  solicitude  about  my  equipage, 
that  not  one  article  of  it  would  have  escaped  his  vigilance, 
or  been  suffered  to  remain  out  of  his  box,  had  I  not,  early 
in  the  business,  bethought  myself  of  recommending  to 
him,  as  more  worthy  his  attention,  the  luggage  of  a 
wealthy  Turkish  merchant,  which,  infinitely  heavier,  as- 
suredly much  more  required  being  lightened. 

The  only  one  of  my  companions  whom  I  trusted  was 
a  Cypriote.  Like  myself  a  Greek  by  birth,  he  had  like 
me  embraced  Islamism  from  choice  ;  but  with  this  dif- 
ference, that  love  had  been  my  motive,  revenge  his.  He 
had  turned  Mohammedan  for  the  sole  purpose  of  being 
qualified  to  return  to  another  Moliammedan,  without 
breaidi  of  etiquette,  the  favour  of  a  drubbing.  No  sooner 
was  he  admitted  into  the  bosom  of  Islamism,  than  he  ran 
to  discharge  the  debt ;  and  paid  it  vvith  suidi  ample  interest, 
that  his  creditor  was  never  heard  to  utter  a  single  sylla- 
ble of  complaint.  To  do  penance  for  this  petulance,  as 
he  said;  or,  rather,  to  withdraw  from  the  scene  of  this 
p.chievement,  as  I  believe,  he  undertook  the  pilgrimage. 
From  Cyprus  he  embarked  for  Jaffa,  from  Jaffa  crossed 
over  to  Suez,  and  at  Suez  took  sliii>ping  with  a  flotilla  of 
hadjees  bound  for  Djedda,  "  Huddled  together  so  thick," 
Raid  he,  "  that  we  found  not  room  to  lie  down,  in  boats  so 
rotten  that  we  expected  to  split  on  every  coral  reef  on 
which  our  ignorant  sailors  chose  to  lun,  I  never  expected 
to  rca(;h  land  again;  and  I  do  not  know  whether  I  owe 
my  being  saved  from  a  watery  grave  to  Mohammed  or  to 
fhe  Virgin ;  as,  for  fear  of  a  mistake,  I  addressed  my 
prayers  to  both.  'J'his,  however,  I  do  know,  that  having 
on(!0  got  upon  terra-firma  again,  I  mean,  please  God  ! 
nevtT  more  to  trust  myself  on  tlie  water.     I  have  con- 

*  Uofinlac  fryjnri — some  of  the  Turliish  pHshas  or  govemors  of  provineea 
havR  BoHiiiac  Nolflicr;  for  thfir  bo<l)-guardK,  as  others  have  Albanians,  and 
flitf.TH  Kiiorfirt  or  Turkmen. 

t  Uolibash-ofltcer  of  Delis. 


anastasiu?.  267 

r.eived  such  a  horror  of  that  eUiinent,  that  Mohammedan, 
and,  wiiat  i«  iiior-,  liadjee  as  I  now  am,  I  can  sc'nrc;e  pre- 
vail upon  myself  to  dnnk  a  drop  of  any  tliinjr  hut  wine." 

My  friend  Malunood,  however,  was  destined  more 
justly  to  appreciate  the  comforts  of  travellintr  on  dry  land, 
when  a  three  weeks'  journey  across  the  sands  of  Arabia 
had  killed  oil'  with  fatigue  and  heat  about  a  fourth  of  our 
caravan.  Almost  become  transparent  with  loss  of  flesh, 
he  now  swore  he  would  rather  a  thousand  times  be  swal- 
lowed up  at  once  by  a  wave,  tJian  be  mummified  by 
inches. 

On  entering  the  pashalik  of  Damascus  the  scene 
changed  completely.  Each  league,  as  we  advanced,  now 
brought  some  improvement  m  our  condition.  First  came 
to  meet  us  the  supply  of  fresh  provisions  from  Trabloos ; 
next  the  convoy  from  Palestine ;  and  when,  soon  after, 
we  entered  the  fertile  plains  of  Hauran,  I  felt  as  if 
ushered  at  once  from  the  burning  bowels  of  hell  into  the 
flowery  fields  of  Elysium.  Indeed,  on  first  beholding 
from  a  small  eminence,  after  a  month's  wearisome  march, 
through  sands  almost  red  hot,  the  glassy  pool  of  Mardin, 
encircled  by  its  verdant  banks,  such  was  the  fit  of  hydro 
— not  phobia — but  mania,  which  came  upon  me,  that  had 
I  been  within  reach  of  the  lovely  puddle,  I  would  have 
plunged  into  it  headlong — dress,  armour,  and  all ! 

The  privations  of  a  pilgrimage  are  not  necessary  to 
render  Damascus  a  true  paradise.  Groves  of  orange 
and  apricot  and  plum  trees  imbosom  its  walls,  limpid 
fountains  sparkle  in  all  its  hal)itations;  and  so  much  did 
its  beauties,  animate  and  iiianiriiate,  its  exquisite  coniec 
tionary,  and  its  cool  sherbet  deliglit  my  eye  and  palate, 
that  I  purposed  making  it  my  abode,  until  1  should  hear 
further  of  the  high  admiral's  motions.  Purified  by  my 
pilgrimage,  I  ihouglit  I  could  afford  to  run  up  a  new  score 
of  little  pec<!adilloes  ;  and  though  in  the  course  of  three 
weeks  I  saw  the  forty  thousand  hadjees  with  wlioin  I 
had  entered  Damascus  again  disappear  almost  to  a  man, 
I  still  continued  without  the  smallest  intention  of  stirring, 
until  1  found  that  I  had  leckoned  without  my  host — I 
mean  without  Djezzar,  the  eternal  pasha. 

One  Friday  morning,  after  my  devotions,  just  as  I 
stepped  out  of  the  mosque,  my  eye  happened  to  be  caught 
by  one  of  tiiose  celestial  beings,  found  in  large  cities,  wlio, 
anticipating  the  ollice  of  the  liouris  of  paradise,  have  no 
objection  to  cast  a  ray  of  bliss  on  the  existence  of  mortai 
M2 


268  ANASTASItJS. 

man.  Unfortunately,  my  eagerness  to  pursue  the  rapid 
motion  of  the  flitting  form  of  brightness  made  me  over- 
look some  nearer  but  less  attractive  objects,  which  stood 
in  my  way.  Foremost  among  these  happened  to  be  a 
little  man,  who,  walking  up  the  steps  of  the  mosque, 
just  as  I  rushed  down,  was  so  much  below  my  line  of 
sight,  directed  straight  forward,  that  I  only  perceived  his 
proximity  by  the  violence  with  which  I  came  in  contact 
with  his  person,  and  occasioned  his  downfall.  I  should 
more  properly  have  said,  his  fear  of  a  downfall  ;  since  I 
had  the  address  to  catch  him  in  my  arms,  and  to  twirl 
him  round  like  a  top,  so  as  to  break  the  force  of  the 
shock,  and  only  to  lay  him  neatly  down  on  his  seat 
upon  the  steps,  without  having  received  the  smallest 
injury. 

Great  as  was  my  hurry,  1  felt  unable  to  proceed  until  I 
had  looked  round,  as  one  always  does,  to  see  whom  I 
thus  had  disposed  of  in  the  least  disagreeable  manner  I 
could  help.  I  found  it  to  be  a  personage  dressed  after 
the  Turkish  fashion  indeed,  but  evidently,  in  the  very 
Christianlike  manner  in  which  his  Mohammedan  apparel 
was  huddled  on,  a  Frank  in  disguise.  In  short,  1  had 
run  foul  of  an  inquisitive  traveller,  come  to  have  a  sly 
peep  at  a  mosque  noted  in  the  empire  for  being  kept 
peculiarly  sacred  from  the  intrusion  of  infidels;  and  who 
certainly  expected  not  his  curiosity  to  meet  with  so 
providential  a  punishment. 

I  always  piqued  myself  upon  my  good  breeding,  espe- 
cially to  strangers:  and  I  felt  particularly  anxious  to 
display  it  to  one  who  miglit  report  of  me  in  Franguestan. 
For  which  reason  1  turned  back,  and  laying  hold  of  the 
short  person  of  the  traveller  in  tiie  readiest  way  for 
righting  it,  namely,  by  tiie  ample  folds  of  his  nether  man 
— 1  lilted  him  up  like  an  oil  jar,  and  so  set  him  on  end 
again;  at  the  same  time  reversing  his  position  for  the 
benefit  of  his  curiosity,  and  turning  his  face  towards  the 
entrance  of  the  mosque  which  he  was  come  to  view. 

I  do  not  know  by  what  strange  bias  in  his  mind,  to  be 
pushed  down  should  have  appeared  to  him  a  misfortune 
to  be  borne  with,  while  to  btt  set  on  his  legs  again  was 
takfni  for  an  indignity,  which  called  for  evnry  expression 
of  the  most  outrageous  reseniment.  Perhaps  it  was  from 
the  superiority  of  size  and  strength  it  implied  on  my  part. 
But  so  it  was;  and  instead  of  thanks  for  an  act  of  which 
my  hurry  still  increased  the  merit,  I  got  nothing  for  ray 


ANASTAsrus.  269 

pains  but  abuse,  the  more  galjiiig  since  the  courtesy 
which  caused  it  had  made  me  lose  sight  of  tlie  object  of 
my  pursuit.  It  is  true,  that  in  iiis  passion  my  traveller 
resorted  for  his  epithets  to  the  German  tongue;  but  1  had 
learned  with  my  friends  at  Pera  the  fundamental  words 
of  that  language,  and  perfectly  understood  every  term  of 
commendation  he  was  pleased  to  bestow.  I  tlierefore 
ran  back,  and,  in  order  to  undo  what  I  had  obtained  so 
little  gratitude  for  doing,  again  gently  laid  him  down 
upon  his  seat  as  before,  in  the  very  place  from  which  I 
had  raised  him ;  at  the  same  time  begging  his  pardon  for 
my  presumption  in  having  lent  my  unwelcome  assistance 
to  rectify  his  position.  A  fat  friar  of  the  Latin  hospice 
tolerated  at  Damascus,  who  accompanied  the  stranger 
through  the  city  as  cicerone,  but  had  prudently  kept 
aloof  while  his  guest  made  the  attempt  on  the  mosque, 
saw  from  a  distance  the  last  operation,  and  not  knowing 
the  cause,  took  it  into  his  head  that  I  was  ill  treating  his 
friend ;  upon  which  he  ran  to  his  rescue. 

Padre  Giacomo  happened — from  some  private  cause  or 
other,  counseled  hy  die  Dauiascenos  with  the  magic  art 
— to  be  in  great  estimation  with  the  pasha;  and  thence 
had  the  confidence  to  abuse  me  in  his  turn,  not  like  the 
traveller,  in  an  outlandish  language,  but  in  good  Arabic, 
intelligible  to  eveiy  bystander.  This  materially  altered 
the  case.  To  be  thus,  in  the  midst  of  Damascus,  and  in 
the  hearing  of  a  numerous  audience,  publicly  insulted, 
and  that  by  a  capuchin,  was  not  to  be  borne.  "  See," 
cried  I,  therefore,  to  the  mob,  "  what  it  is  to  have  an  old 
woman  for  a  sultan,  who  grants  firmans  to  Chris^tiaa 
dogs"  (my  politeness  had  by  this  time  given  way  a  little), 
"  to  come  and  spy  disguised  in  our  own  dress  the  naked- 
ness of  our  land !  But  glory  be  to  the  prophet,  and  down 
with  the  Yaoors !" 

"  Yes,  down  with  the  Yaoors  ;  and  let  us  go  and  drown 
them,"  answered  the  ready  mob. 

This  proposal  even  exceeded  my  wishes.  But  once  I 
had  saved  a  Jew  from  a  watery  grave,  and  I  thought  I 
might  have  equal  success  with  ?^brace  of  Christians. 
"No,  no,"  cried  I,  therefore,  "the  Arabs  would  think  that 
inhospitable.  Let  us  only  disable  these  infidels  from 
passing  themselves  off  for  Mussulmans,  by  stripping  them 
of  their  mustachios  and  their  beard.  They  will  look  as 
ridiculous  again  when  shaved,  as  they  would  do  merely 
drowned."     So  thought  the  raob.     My  friends  conse- 


270  ANASTASIUS. 

qiiently  were  taken  to  the  nearest  barber,  seated,  lathered, 
shaved,  and  dismissed. 

But  the  bristles  of  the  capuchin'is  beard  were  fated  to 
become  tho^rns  in  my  side.  Tlie  pasha  took  up  the  affair. 
He  could  neither  bear  to  be  without  his  friend  the  friar, 
nor  to  see  him  in  his  presence  with  a  beardless  chin.  I 
very  soon  got  hints  of  the  unwholesomeness  of  the 
Damascus  air ;  and  of  all  physicians,  I  wished  least  for 
Djezzar  to  be  let  blood  by.  Having-  picked  up  a  good 
number  of  the  country  swordblades,  remarkable  for  their 
fine  temper,  I  resolved  to  convert  my  steel  into  gold  in 
the  capital.  There  also  I  should  be  more  in  the  way  of 
watching  the  grand  admiral's  motions;  and  1  doubted 
not  tliat  an  ex-kiachef  hostile  to  Ibrahim  and  Mourad 
would  easily  obtain  rank  in  the  sultan's  army.  1  there- 
fore packed  up  my  little  property,  and  the  very  evening- 
after  the  warning  slept  at  Salieh. 

Tlie  next  morning  I  proceeded  with  a  caravan  to  Tra- 
bloos,  and  there  embarked  for  Stambool  on  board  a  vessel 
from  Alexandria.  The  cnrgo  consisted  of  black  slaves. 
The  richest  article  was  a  little  negro,  who  had  been  fur- 
nished with  his  passport  for  the  harem  by  an  old  Coobd 
in  tin;  Said,  piu'veyor  to  my  patron  Suleiman.  Though 
the  only  one  of  twenty  who  had  escaped  alive,  poor  little 
blacky  looked  very  unhappy.  To  console  him,  I  used  to 
prognosticate  his  becoming  some  day  kislar-aga,  when 
he  would  have  all  the  beauties  of  the  seraglio  under  his 
command  !  "Alas  !"  answered  he,  "of  what  use  will  it 
be  to  me  1"  "  Of  what  use  ?"  I  replied.  "  Why  to  whip 
them,  to  be  sure  ;  and  so  to  vent  your  spleen !" 


CHAPTER  XXHI. 

A  CERTAIN  number  of  years  had  now  elapsed  since  I 
left  Mavroyeni;  and  changes  more  potent  than  even 
those  which  time  effects  had  taken  place  in  my  circum- 
stances since  that  period.  I  was  not  only  from  a  boy 
become  a  man,  but  from  a  Greek  a  Mohammedan,  and 
from  a  person  of  no  note  whatever  an  individual  who 
had  fdled  no  inconsiderable  character  in  the  world's 
draraa.    I  had  acted  a  part  both  in  negotiation  and  ia 


ANASTASinS.  271 

Warfare.  I  no  longer  either  thought  myself  an  inferior 
to  the  droguemaii  of  the  arsenal,  or  stood  in  need  of  his 
protection.  It  was  doubtless  for  the  latter  reason  that, 
when  arrived  at  Constantinople,  1  no  longer  felt  any 
hesitation  to  call  at  his  door.  Little  acquainted,  how- 
ever, with  the  revolutions  which  might  have  happened  in 
a  place  so  fertile  in  storms  as  the  Fanar,  I  thouglit  it 
prudent,  ere  I  ventured  upon  my  visit,  to  collect  some 
information  respecting  my  old  patron,  lest,  seeking  his 
abode  too  abruptly,  I  should  be  conducted  to  a  burying- 
ground  or  a  dungeon. 

"Friend,"  answered  the  old  messmate  to  whom  I  ad- 
dressed my  inquiries,  "  Mavroyeni  is  no  longer  to  be  found 
at  the  arsenal." 

"I  understand,"  replied  I;  and  motioned  with  my 
hand,  as  if  to  say,  "  he  is  shortened  by  the  part  above 
the  neck." 

"Not  yet,"  resumed  my  informer,  "but  in  a  fair  way 
of  being  so.     He  is  at  present  Hospodar  of  Vahichia." 

"  Hospodar  of  V' alachia !"  exclaimed  I,  starting  back 
at  least  three  paces.  "What!  Nichobs  Mavroyeni, — a 
mere  man  of  the  islands,  a  rank  Tooslian! — has  he  tlien 
at  last  been  able  to  wriggle  himself  into  the  fairest  of  the 
two  Greek  provinces  ;  and  that,  in  the  very  teeth  of  every 
Ipsilandi,  Morosi,  Calliniacqui,  and  Souzzo  whom  the 
Fanar  could  muster  to  oppose  his  invasion?" 

"He  has,"  rejoined  Notara.  "After  having  been,  during 
fifteen  years  and  upwards,  regularly  threatened  every 
day  at  the  Terzlianeh,  by  the  grand  admiral,  v.'ith  being 
kicked  out  of  office,  he  has  only  left  the  place  of  drogue- 
man  of  the  fleet,  to  step  into  the  veiy  highest  situa- 
tion which  a  Greek  can  attain  in  the  Turkish  empire; 
and  that,  without  any  stipulation  for  the  purcliase  of  the 
principality,  without  any  compromise  as  to  the  lengtli  of 
his  tenure,  without  any  restriction  or  engagement  as  to 
the  persons  he  was  to  promote.  Fettered  by  no  clause 
or  limitation  whatsoever,  he  has  distanced  all  his  rivals, 
and  swept  away  the  whole  stake  single  handed." 

I  begged  my  friend  to  inform  me  how  this  miracle  had 
been  accomplished. 

"  You  must  remember,"  replied  he,  "  that  Russia  never 
acted  with  more  liostility  towards  Turkey  than  after  the 
peace.  But  the  Muscovites  were  governed  by  a  man 
in  petticoats,  and  we  ruled  by  old  women  in  turbans. 
Haleel-Hamid  Vizier,  and  after  him  Shaheen-.Vly  Vizier, 


273  ANASTASIUS. 

seemed  determined  to  abide  every  insult  of  the  northern 
virago.     At  last,  however,  the  interview  between  Joseph 
and  Catharine  opened  the  sultan's  eyes.     Abd-ool-Ham- 
med  felt  that  his  sacrifices  would  not  preserve  peace,  and 
must  diminish  the  chance  of  a  successful  war.     He  dis- 
missed the  pacific  Shaheen,  and  looked  about  for  a  more 
enterprising-  and  warlike  vizier.     The  only  one  in  the 
wliole  empire  that  could  be  found  to  suit  his  views  was 
Youssoof,  the  water-carrier  of  Smyrna,  the  caleondgee 
of  the  fleet,  the  counsellor  and  right-hand  of  the  capitan- 
pasha,  the  defender  of  the  Boghaz  agahist  the  Russians, 
the  moohasseel  of  the  Morea,  and,  tinally,  the  supreme 
vizier  of  the  Othoman  empire. 
"Youssoof,  in  his  turn,  felt  the  necessity  of  confiding  the 
government  of  a  province  so  important  and  so  much 
exposed  as  Valachia  to  none  but  a  man  of  resolution  and 
bravery.     Such  a  one  was  not  to  be  found  among  the 
merchant-princes  of  the  Fanar.      But  such  a   one  he 
knew  his  old  comrade  in  the  service  of  the  capitau-pasha, 
Mavroyeni,  to  be.     He  therefore  proposed  him.     In  vam 
did  all  the  Fanariotes  for  once  cordially  unite  to  prevent 
his  nomination.     In  vain  did  they  put  forward  their  tool, 
Petracki,  the  serafl!"*  of  the  mint.     This  zealous  agent 
might  spend  more  money  to  prevent  an  election  to  a 
principality  than  ever  had  been  wasted  to  obtain  one !  it 
availed  nothing!     Mavroyeni  was  invested;  and  when 
in  the  act  of  receiving  at  tlie  hands  of  the  supreme  vizier 
the  marks  of  his  dignity,  he  begged,  as  the  single  favour 
which  was  wanting  to  complete^ his  bliss,  the  head  of  the 
serafT;  that  boon  also  was  granted.     On  going  out  of  the 
audience-chamber — by   way  of   a    delicate   attention — 
Petracki's  bleeding  head  was  made  to  roll  at  his  feet. 

"  Mavroyeni  is  now  gone,  in  the  fulness  of  his  glory, 
to  take  possession  of  his  principality.  Perhaps,  how- 
ever, what  he  regarded  as  the  last  testimonial  of  his  ele- 
vation may  prove  the  first  step  to  his  downfall.  It  is 
secretly  whispered  that  the  late  Sultan  Mustapha  had 
confided  several  millions  of  piastres  to  Petracki  for  the 
use  of  his  son  Selim,  during  the  reign  of  Abd-ool-hammed 
his  brother.  This  deposite  is  necessarily  involved  in  the 
general  fate  of  the  seraff's  confiscated  property.  But 
Selim  some  day  nmst  come  to  the  throne,  and  he  will  not 
fail  to  remember  the  loss  he  sustained  through  Mavroyeni.," 

*  Setalf- cashier,  banker. 


ANAS  T  Asms.  273 

On  hearing  all  this,  my  first  impulse  was  to  pay  the 
patron  of  my  youth  a  visit  in  his  principality :  but  my 
second  thoughts  presented  my  stake  in  Egypt  as  the  one 
most  worth  following  up.  However,  the  capitan-pasha 
being  as  yet  far  from  ready  for  his  expedition,  I  deter- 
mined, in  the  mean  time,  to  indulge  the  supreme  plea- 
sure of  the  Italians  ;  the  far  niente. 

At  Chio  an  intimacy  had  long  subsisted  between  my 
father  and  another  Greek  merchant,  by  name  Mavrocor- 
dato.     His  extraction  was  honourable :  friends  traced  his 
pedigree  to  a  younger  branch  of  the  imperial  Pala^ologi: 
history  allowed  him  the  later  and  more  certain  honour 
of  being  related  to  princes  of  Valachia ;  the  first  of  wiiom, 
invested  by  the  Porte,  bore  the  same  name.     He  was  a 
man  of  most   respectable   character:    nay,   while   bur- 
thened  with  so  numerous  a  family,  that  the  most  rifrorous 
parsimony  could  only  ensure  to  each  of  its  members  a 
very  moderate  provision,  he  even  enjoyed  the  reputation 
of  being  particularly  liberal,  and  seemed  contented,  so 
the  expenses  of  the  twelvemonth  did  not  exceed  the 
comings  in  of  the  year.     But,  strange  to  tell !  no  sooner 
had  he,  through  a  fatal  contagion,  lost  all  his  children 
save  one,  in  whom  consequently  was  to  centre  his  whole 
inheritance,  than  a  total  revolution  took  place  in  his  con- 
duct.    The  possibility  of  leaving  this  only  heir  extremely 
opulent  now  for  the  first  time  seizing  hold  of  his  imagi- 
nation, gave  it  a  new  bias,  and  bred  a  desire  for  riches, 
before  unfelt.    He  who,  while  in  moderate  circumstances, 
had  been  generous  to  a  proverb,  now  all  at  once  when  he 
saw  his  hoard  accumulate,  became  saving,  retrenched 
many  of  the  innocent  luxuries  in  which  he  formerly  in- 
dulged, and  began  to  toil  for  the  acquirement  of  super- 
fluous wealth,  with  a  devotion  often  before  sharply  cen- 
sured in  others  by  himself,  while  only  possessed  of  a 
sufficiency.     Still,  however,  he  was  at  no  time  suspected 
of  increasing  his  gains  by   dishonourable   means,   nor 
could  he  be  accused  of  sordid  avarice.     He  might  be 
said  to  live  below-  his  income,  but  he  ranked  not  among 
those  imbecile  misers  who,  during  their  lifetime,  starve 
the  very  heir  whom  they  destine  at  their  death  to  revel 
in  their  riches.     No  expense  was  spared  for  the  educa- 
tion of  Spiridion ;   and  even  for  tiie   pleasures  of  this 
beloved  son  Mavrocordato  would  often  exceed  his  own 
notions  of  discretion. 
The  intimacy  between  Mavrocordato  and  my  father 
M3 


274  ANASTASirS. 

had  produced  an  habitual  intercourse  between  Spiridion 
and  myself.  It  could  not  be  called  friendship — it  was 
scarce  even  entitled  to  the  appellation  of  companionship: 
for  there  existed  between  us  a  difference  of  two  years — 
a  prodigious  one  at  our  age — and  sufficient  to  make  me 
look  upon  the  sou  of  Mavrocordato  as  by  no  means  fit  to 
join  in  my  sports.  Our  connexion  might  be  described 
as  composed  of  protectorship  on  my  part,  and  of  defer- 
ence on  that  of  Spiridion.  I  led  him  in  my  train,  spoke 
to  him  in  a  tone  of  authority,  and  gave  myself  the  airs 
of  his  tutor.  The  fag  of  the  party  when  I  associated 
with  boys  of  my  own  standing,  my  protege  was  only 
allowed  to  contribute  to  my  pastimes  when  I  found  my- 
self destitute  of  other  resource.  But  flattered  by  being 
admitted  in  any  form  under  my  auspices  to  the  diversions 
of  his  older  playmates,  Spiridion  asked  not  for  more, 
contemplated  me  with  sentiments  of  veneration,  felt 
honoured  by  my  commands,  and  executed  all  my  high 
behests  with  a  zeal  and  promptitude  amoimting  to  per- 
fect devotion.  To  employ  in  my  concerns  any  other  boy 
but  him  was  on  my  part  a  sign  of  displeasure,  and  to 
himself  a  subject  of  mortification.  It  was  he  who, 
whenever  we  went  on  a  marauding  expedition,  was  sent 
forward  as  a  scout  to  explore  the  ground ;  who,  when  we 
stripped  an  orchard,  kept  watch  until  we  had  secured  the 
booty;  and  who,  whatever  exploit  we  engaged  in,  gene- 
rally paid  the  penalty,  while  we  carried  off  the  fruits. 
But  the  sufferings  he  earned  in  our  service  he  ever  bore 
most  manfully,  and  his  firmness  in  submitting  to  any  pun- 
ishment rather  than  betray  our  confidence  was  truly 
heroic.  In  return,  I  always  sustained  my  part  as  his 
protector ;  defended  him  against  every  other  boy,  allowed 
none  of  my  comrades  to  assume  over  him  the  least  au- 
thority, and  would  liave  made  any  one  who,  in  mj"^  pres- 
ence, had  presumed  to  correct  him,  long  remember  the 
castigation  which  would  have  followed  such  an  offence. 

Still,  however,  spite  of  the  public  countenance  with 
which  I  honoured  Mavrocordato's  son,  the  father  w^ould 
not  have  grieved  to  have  seen  us  less  together.  For  a 
lime  he  kept  us  as  much  asunder  as  his  own  frequent 
intercourse  with  my  own  sire  would  permit :  but  an  event 
took  place,  which,  in  the  midst  of  all  Mavrocordato's 
attempts  to  dissolve  us,  riveted  our  friendship  more 
closely  than  ever. 

I  had  headed  a  large  troop  of  my  companions  in  a 


AKASTASIUS.  275 

swimming  party,  when  one  of  the  lesser  boys,  spying  some 
way  off  a  small  boat  upon  the  beach,  set  it  afloat,  leaped 
in  with  Spiridion,  and  rowed  out  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance. Suddenly  there  arose  a  violent  squall.  The 
truants  grew  frightened,  they  lost  their  presence  of 
mind,  mismanaged  the  boat,  and  overset  it.  Much  fa- 
tigued with  a  good  hour's  splashing  in  the  water,  I  had 
just  finished  putting  on  my  clothes,  when  a  universal 
shout  of  terror  made  me  raise  my  eyes,  and  see  the  two 
children  struggling  with  the  waves  ! 

Spiridion's  companion  was  a  tolerable  swimmer,  and 
rapidly  approached  the  beach.  No  one  felt  the  least 
alarm  for  him:  but  Spiridion  himself,  who  had  laid  hold 
of  an  oar  for  support,  seemed  on  the  point  of  sinking. 
Already  encumbered  with  my  clothes,  I  called  out  to  my 
still  naked  companions  to  jump  in  and  save  my  charge. 
"  Who  dares  ?"  was  all  the  answer  I  got. 

Dressed  as  I  was,  I  now  myself  plunged  into  the  sea, 
swam  to  Spiridion,  and  succeeded  in  thrownig  to  him  one 
end  of  my  sash,  while  I  held  the  other  fasl  between  my 
teeth.  Supporting  the  child  in  this  way,  I  tried  to  regain 
the  beach.  It  was  still  a  good  way  off,  when  some  of 
my  comrades  seeing  me  appear  faint  and  overwhelmed 
with  my  load,  at  last  took  courage,  and  threw  themselves 
into  the  water  to  swim  to  my  assistance.  But  I  had  got 
too  far  unassisted  to  accept  of  their  tardy  succour,  and 
resolved  to  achieve  the  task  alone,  or  perish  in  the  at- 
tempt. Collecting  all  my  remaining  strength,  I  pushed 
away  my  officious  playmates,  and  invoking  my  protect- 
ing saints,  strained  every  still  obedient  nerve  "for  a  final 
exertion.  It  exceeded  my  powers:  held  back  by  the 
weight  of  Spiridion,  I  felt  myself  sinking.  In  this  siuia- 
tion  was  I,  by  a  perseverance  which  could  do  my  friend 
no  good,  to  share  his  untimely  end  1  or  by  abandoning 
him  at  least  to  save  my  own  life  ]— Reason,  I  suppose, 
would  have  said,  "  Save  yourself." 

Luckily,  the  dilemma  never  struck  me.  I  had  resigoed 
myself  to  death,  when  an  enormous  billow,  which  only 
seemed  advancing  to  swallow  us  up,  flung  me  upon  a 
shoal  just  hidden  by  the  waves,  of  which  I  had  no 
knowledge.  I  found  means  with  one  arm  to  cling  to  the 
rock,  while  with  the  other  I  grasped  my  poor  Spirro. 
Thus  we  remained  above  water,  until  a  boat,  which  just 
before  had  put  off  to  meet  me,  reached  the  reef,  took  us 
in,  and  brought  us  on  shore. 


376  ANASTASITTS. 

Mavrocordato  happened  to  walk  with  ray  father  on 
the  quay  when  the  accident  took  place.  Apprized  of  his 
son's  danger,  he  had  arrived  in  sight,  half-frantic  with 
terror,  just  as,  floundering  on  the  waves,  I  tlirew  out  my 
sash  to  Spiridion.  He  had  gone  through  all  the  agonies 
of  every  subsequent  crisis,  until  he  saw  us  safely  landed 
on  the  beach.  Immediately  he  ran,  or  rather  flew  to  the 
spot,  and  even  before  he  noticed  his  child  clasped  me 
convulsively  in  his  arms,  as  the  saviour  both  of  the  son 
and  the  father. 

These  expressions  died  away  on  my  ear.  Exhausted 
with  fatigue,  I  had  fainted,  and  lay  half  an  hour  like  one 
completely  dead,  ere  1  recovered.  But  on  being  brought 
to  myself  again,  I  still  Ibund  Mavrocordato  busy  by  my 
side,  ministering  to  my  relief,  while  poor  Spirro  was 
drenching  my  cold  features  with  his  tears. 

As  soon  as  his  father  saw  me  able  to  understand  him, 
he  resumed  his  boundless  thanks,  only  interrupting  th^m 
to  lay  on  his  son  a  most  positive  injunction,  never  to 
treat  me  otherwise  than  as  a  brother;  and  in  tlie  face  of 
all  around,  and  of  Heaven  itself,  he  took  a  solemn  en- 
gagement, strengthened  by  every  most  sacred  oath,  hence- 
forth to  consider  me  as  his  second  child.  "  Happen  what 
may,  Anastasius,"  he  cried,  sobbing  with  emotion,  "  rest 
secure  that  I  shall  never  abandon  you ;"  and,  indeed, 
from  that  day  Mavrocordato  seemed  to  have  no  second 
object  of  solicitude  (his  son  always  remaining  the  first), 
except  to  palliate  my  frequent  offences.  Many  a  time  he 
redeemed  my  sins  with  the  sums  he  would  have  denied 
to  the  gratification  of  his  own  fancies;  and,  had  he  been 
at  home  when  the  ripening  eflTects  of  my  imprudent  con- 
duct made  me  become  a  voluntary  exile,  I  might  not  per- 
haps have  fled  as  I  did  from  my  natural  parent  and  from 
my  adoptive  father. 

Since  my  abandonment  of  home  I  had  lost  sight  of 
Mavrocordato  and  his  son.  When  I  wanted  assistance 
most  at  Constantinople,  and  might  have  derived  the 
greatest  benefit  from  the  performance  of  their  promise, 
Mavrocordato  happened  to  be  gone  on  business  to  Trieste 
or  to  Vienna,  I  did  not  know  which;  and  just  before  I 
went  to  Chio  he  had  entirely  quitted  that  island — a 
theatre  too  confined  for  his  extending  concerns — and  had 
come  to  settle  at  Stambool. 

In  a  capital  of  that  description,  the  love  of  riches  soon 
begets  the  love  of  sway.    Mavrocordato,  who  before 


ANASTASIUS.  277 

only  wished  to  leave  his  son  distinguished  for  wealth, 
now  aspired  at  beholding  him  eminent  in  rank  and  dig- 
nity. In  short,  he  aimed  at  nothing  less  than  seeing  him 
some  day  bey  of  Valachia  or  Moldavia;  and  all  his  en- 
deavours now  tended  to  forming  the  requisite  connexions 
at  the  Fanar.  Unfortunately,  he  had  not  the  lungs  which 
ambition  requires.  Accustomed  to  inhale  the  pure  moun- 
tain air  of  Chio,  he  found  the  confined  atmosphere  of  the 
capital  ill  agree  with  his  health.  Accordingly,  while  he 
only  retained  at  Constantinople  a  small  recess  for  busi- 
ness, he  bought  in  the  country,  close  to  the  beautiful 
village  of  Kandilly,  the  villa  of  a  proscribed  vizier  for 
his  residence.  It  was  there  that,  in  one  of  my  excur- 
sions, chance  again  threw  me  in  his  way. 

There  were  two  things  in  this  rencounter  which  sur- 
prised m.e,  and  to  maiiy  will  appear  incredible.  The  first 
was,  that  Mavrocordato  had  not  toiled  like  a  galley-slave 
for  his  son  while  a  hoy,  only  to  fall  out  with  him  when 
grown  a  man  ;  the  other,  ihat  he  did  not  consider,  because 
nine  or  ten  years  had  elapsed  since  I  saved  that  son's 
life,  the  natural  term  of  a  father's  gratitude  was  wholly 
expired  ;  nor  did  he  even  think  that  all  the  promises  made 
to  a  Christian  must  fall  away  on  his  becoming  a  Moham- 
medan. When,  indeed,  Mavrocordato  learned  that  for 
reasons  good  or  bad  I  had  changed  my  religion,  he  looked 
a  little  dismayed ;  but  soon  recovering,  "  The  will  of 
God,"  he  cried,  "  be  done  !"  and  invited  me  not  the  less 
as  cordially  to  his  mansion  as  if  I  could  publicly  have 
pledged  him  in  the  wine  of  his  own  growing.  Perhaps  a 
person  who  in  my  situation  could  raise  himself  to  rank, 
and  had  found  means  to  save  money,  might  not  to  a  mind 
of  Mavrocordato's  prudent  cast,  after  all,  appear  wholly 
destitute  of  some  laudable  ingredients  in  his  disposition. 
At  least,  my  host  received  me  as  if  he  had  thought  so ; 
and  the  very  same  day  wrote  to  my  father  to  acquaint 
him  with  his  rencounter,  his  pleasure,  and  his  grief. 

Many  letters  between  Stambool  and  Chio,  I  suspect,  are 
intercepted  by  the  tritons  and  the  nereids,  curious  to  know 
what  passes  above  water;  but  Mavrocordato's  epistle 
was  left  by  these  submarine  gossips  to  take  its  course. 
There  even  came  to  it  as  speedy  an  answer  as  the  dili- 
gence of  man  could  indite,  or  the  breath  of  a  favourably- 
disposed  servant  of^oluswaft  to  its  destination.  My 
host  was  conjured  in  it,  by  every  tie  of  ancient  friendship 
and  every  motive  of  religion,  to  spare  no  pains  in  recall- 


S78  ANASTASIUS. 

ing  astray  sheep  into  ilie  way  of  salvation.  A  postscript, 
about  as  long  again  as  the  letter,  stated  that  should  my 
abjuration  of  my  errors  compel  me  to  quit  the  Turkish 
dominions,  I  should  find  my  wants  provided  for  in  what- 
ever nearest  part  of  Christendom  I  might  make  my  abode. 
These  assurances  moved  me  to  tears.  "  Blessed  be  my 
aged  parent!"  cried  I;  "when  permitted  by  those  that 
surround  him,  he  still  feels  anxious  for  the  welfare  of  his 
Anastasius."  "  And  so  do  your  brothers,"  answered  old 
Mavrocordato.  "  They  would  rather  even  that  you  sliould 
return  to  your  faith  than  to  your  island.  So  they  write." 
At  tliis  speech  a  dark  cloud  again  overcast  the  transient 
sunshine  of  my  heart. 

As  to  Mavrocordato,  he  inquired  not  into  the  motives; 
he  only  considered  the  merits  of  the  request.  At  all  times 
he  had  been  religiously  inchned,  but  he  had  extended  the 
sphere  of  his  devotion  since  he  had  contracted  that  of  his 
liberality.  He  gave  more  to  God  as  he  gave  less  to  man ; 
no  doubt  expecting  the  stake  in  lieaven  to  bear  the  higher 
interest.  The  arduous  and  delicate  commission  intrusted 
to  his  prudence  he  undertook,  not  as  a  mere  act  of  duty 
towards  a  friend,  but  as  an  effectual  means  of  working 
his  own  eternal  bliss.  Had  he  been  offered  the  nursing  of 
a  vizier's  estate  instead  of  the  rekindling  of  a  Taooshan's 
extinguished  faith,  he  could  not  have  engaged  with  more 
zeal  in  the  business.  I  believe  he  would  liave  paid  me 
to  become  once  more  a  Christian,  had  I  been  in  want  of 
money ;  but  finding  that  all  I  stood  in  need  of  was  good 
advice,  he  determined  not  to  spare  it,  and  only  considered 
how  he  might  best  administer  the  bitter  potion,  and  ensure 
the  most  frequent  opportunities  for  such  salutary  exhorta- 
tions as  all  my  ingenuity  might  not  enable  me  to  escape. 
Cunningly,  therefore,  he  bethought  himself  of  making  his 
solicitude  for  my  temporal  concerns  the  means  of  ad- 
vancing his  spiritual  aim;  and  actually  offered  to  manage 
my  property  for  me  to  the  best  advantage,  free  of  commis- 
sion and  other  charges.  The  thing  was  worth  accepting. 
I  left  my  casket  in  Mavro(;ordato's  custody,  empowered 
him  to  sell  its  contents  to  the  greatest  profit,  and  to  lend 
out  my  money  at  the  highest  interest ;  and  even  yielded, 
after  some  little  demur,  to  his  pressing  invitation  to  ac- 
cept of  a  permanent  apartment  under  his  roof. 

Still  he  at  first  only  ventured  upon  the  performance  of 
the  task  to  which  all  this  was  preparatory  with  a  very 
tender  hand.    He  feared  to  excite  my  impatience  of  con- 


ANASTAS1U3.  279' 

trol  or  my  jealousy  of  independence,  and  carefully  ab- 
stained from  all  that  might  savour  of  the  tone  of  a  peda- 
gogue or  the  authority  of  a  parent.  My  well-bred  host 
contented  himself  with  throwing  out,  when  opportunities 
offered,  such  delicate  hints  and  such  roundabout  insinua- 
tions as  left  it  easy,  at  my  pleasure,  either  to  avoid  their 
hitting,  to  take  ofl"  their  point,  or  to  let  their  whole  weight 
fall  upon  me  unnoticed. 

At  last,  however,  Mavrocordato  began  to  find  out  that 
this  over-cautious  mode  of  proceeding  did  not  advance 
his  purpose  ;  accordingly,  he  resolved  upon  a  more  open 
and  undisguised  mode  of  attack.  He  now  on  all  occa- 
sions enlarged  upon  the  reprehensibleness  of  my  conduct, 
and  the  danger  of  my  evil  courses ;  constantly  repre- 
sented me  as  standing  on  the  very  brink  of  perdition ; 
and  never  met  me  at  home  or  abroad  without  significantly 
shaking  his  head,  uttering  a  deep  groan,  and  inflicting 
upon  me  so  vehement  a  lecture,  that  whatever  he  might 
say,  1  could  never  think  myself  obliged  to  him  for  it. 
Tliis  new  method,  therefore,  succeeded  still  worse  than 
the  former.  Instead  of  not  minding  my  host,  I  now  care- 
fully avoided  his  company.  Though  still  nominally  an 
inmate  in  his  house  at  Kandilly,  I  was  oftener  to  be  found 
at  the  farthest  end  of  Constantinople,  and  always  out  in 
the  morning  before  he  came  from  his  office,  and  seldom 
returned  at  niglit  ere  lie  retired  to  bed ;  it  was  but  on 
very  extraordinary  occasions  that  I  indulged  him  with  a 
sight  of  his  very  discreet  guest. 

A  third  plan  of  operations  was  then  resorted  to.  In  the 
idea  that  the  son,  from  less  disparity  of  age  and  greater 
means  of  watching  my  behaviour,  might  succeed  in  the 
scheme  in  which  his  father  failed,  Mavrocordato  now 
committed  the  whole  labour  of  my  conversion  to  Spi- 
ridion.  This  undoubtedly  evinced  a  thorough  confidence 
in  the  steadiness  of  the  youth.  Spotless  purity  itself, 
unless  composed  of  very  hard  and  impenetrable  stuff, 
might,  in  the  office  of  cleansing  the  stains  of  a  mind  full 
of  foulness,  be  supposed  to  incur  some  risk  of  not  remain- 
ing wholly  unsullied. 

Independent  even  of  the  danger  to  which  the  purpose 
of  the  father  exposed  the  son,  perhaps  the  son  was  the 
person  most  unfit  to  forward  the  design  of  the  father.  I 
do  not  mean  on  the  score  of  insufficient  interest  in  my 
welfare :  far  from  it.  In  the  exuberance  of  life's  early 
spring,  the  holy  ties  of  friendship  strike  root  too  deeply  m 


280  ANASTASIUS. 

the  soul,  and  entwine  themselves  too  closely  round  every 
fibre  of  the  heart,  to  be  enfeebled  or  broken  by  later  sepa- 
rations or  storms.  The  intimacies  of  that  happy  epoch, 
as  they  precede,  also  survive  all  the  more  interested  con- 
nexions of  a  maturer  age ;  and  Spiridion's  early  devotion 
to  the  companion  of  his  childhood  had  not  only  kindled 
up  anew,  but  again  glowed  in  his  breast  with  all  its  former 
ardour.  Spite  of  my  manifold  failings,  he  loved  me  at 
Constantinople  as  he  had  done  at  Chio ;  only  the  greater 
scope  of  his  understanding  directed  not  his  wishes  for 
my  weal  to  the  same  point  to  which  tended  exclusively 
the  views  of  his  father.  If  he  more  than  emulated  Mav- 
rocordato  in  his  solicitude  to  see  me  renounce  my  old 
sins,  he  was  far  from  feeling  equal  anxiety  for  my  abjur- 
ing my  new  worship. 

Spiridion  had  received  from  nature  an  expansive  mind. 
It  had  resisted  all  the  contracting  powers  of  a  narrow 
education.  In  vain  might  its  views  be  obstructed  by  the 
opaque  blinds  of  ignorance,  its  flights  impeded  by  the 
leaden  trammels  of  prejudice;  it  could  see  through  the 
one,  and  soar  above  the  other.  As  greater  efforts  were 
made  to  hem  in  on  all  sides  his  powerful  faculties,  they 
seemed  only  to  derive  superior  strength  from  their  con- 
centration, and  to  break  with  greater  force  through  their 
insufficient  barriers.  While  with  all  his  canvass  spread 
to  the  breeze  of  the  passing  hour,  the  father  sailed  down 
the  muddy  tide  of  the  Fanar,  the  son  would  retire  to  his 
closet,  there  to  imbibe  long  draughts  of  wisdom  at  the 
pure  spring  of  philosophy ;  and  as,  where  literary  dis- 
course was  despised  or  was  prohibited,  he  perused  not 
books  merely  to  quote  sentences,  he  had  more  leisure  to 
ruminate  upon  the  matter,  and  to  digest  the  contents  of 
his  volumes.  Hence  his  understanding  rose  far  above  his 
age  and  country ;  for  in  those  days  modern  Greece  had 
not  yet  attained  that  miraculous  emancipation  from  the 
bondage  of  error  and  superstition,  of  which,  I  understand, 
the  P — 's  and  the  C — 's  of  the  present  more  enlightened 
period  boast  in  their  recent  publications;  and  in  the  thick 
darkness  which  surrounded  him,  Spiridion  was  almost  the 
only  person  I  could  have  named  who  attached  more  im- 
portance to  morality  than  to  dogma,  and  who  insisted 
more  upon  inward  principle  than  outward  practices. 

His  behaviour  and  his  exhortations  to  me  wore  the 
stamp  of  this  peculiar  frame  of  mind.  He  did  not,  in- 
deed, say  in  explicit  terms,  "  Those  articles  of  faith,  those 


ANASTASIV8.  281 

forms  of  worship  which  affect  not  the  heart  and  influence 
not  the  conduct  are  of  little  importance.  It  is  those 
principles,  those  actions  only,  on  which  depend  our  own 
happiness  and  that  of  our  fellow-creatuies  which  we 
should  consider  as  indispensable."  He  did  not  tell  me, 
"  Provided  you  fulfil  those  moral  duties  which  the  Koran 
requires  as  well  as  the  Gospel ;  provided  you  conduct 
yourself  as  a  righteous  Moslemin,  rather  than  that  you 
should  scandalize  the  world  by  running  backwards  and 
forwards  between  the  cross  and  the  kaaba,  sometimes 
bowing  to  the  one,  and  sometimes  to  the  other,  remain 
what  you  have  made  yourself,  and  still  hope  to  enter 
heaven,  but  with  a  different  passport  and  at  a  different 
gate."  The  deference  he  bore  his  father  prevented  a 
direct  speech  of  this  sort;  but  in  our  conversations  he 
faintly,  and  only  as  an  irksome  task,  urged  an  ostenta- 
tious abjuration,  which  might  materially  injure  my  in- 
terests without  much  benefiting  my  conduct,  and  only 
rid  the  mosque  of  a  bad  Moslemin  to  throw  a  worse 
Christian  back  upon  the  church ;  while,  on  the  contrary, 
lie  ceased  not  to  depict  witli  all  the  powers  of  eloquence 
and  rhetoric  the  beauty  of  moral  rectitude,  the  wisdom  of 
goodness,  and  the  necessity  of  virtue  even  to  sublunaiy 
happiness ;  and  spoke  of  the  charm  which  dignity  of  mind 
and  manners  throws  over  life  with  such  warmth  and 
delight,  as  if  he  wished  me  to  adopt  them  from  taste 
rather  than  from  cold  conviction ;  and  to  consider  that  I 
was  making  a  sacrifice  to  happiness,  not  in  adopting,  but 
in  resisting  the  pleasures  which  these  good  qualities  con- 
ferred. Whether  from  my  disposition  really  offering 
some  particles  of  what  he  fancied  he  saw  in  it,  or  from 
viewing  its  shades  through  the  favourable  medium  of  his 
partiality,  he  often  would  say  he  observed  in  me  a  singu- 
lar and  romantic  turn  of  mind,  capable  of  becoming  as 
enthusiastic  in  tlie  cause  of  virtue  as  it  had  been  unre- 
strained in  the  career  of  vice.  He  believed  that  the  same 
energy  and  boldness  which,  while  wasted  in  fostering  my 
evil  passions,  had  mrade  me  seek  distinction  in  all  that 
was  profligate  and  base,  when  employed  to  resist  their 
sway  might  render  me  pre-eminent  in  all  that  was  exalted 
and  noble ;  and  he  therefore  felt  for  the  triumph  of  en- 
listing in  the  cause  of  moral  excellence  one  so  capable  of 
shining  among  its  mightiest  champions,  all  the  eagerness 
of  an  unbounded  devotee  to  its  charms. 
'    It  is  true,  the  prodigious  change  in  rae  from  the  extreme 


282  ANASTASIU9. 

of  ill  to  the  extreme  of  good,  Spiridion  riglitly  considered 
as  attainable  only  througli  immense  efforts ;  and  he  re- 
garded the  victory  over  my  thus  far  ungovernable  temper, 
the  triumph  over  my  hitherto  exclusively  cherished  vices, 
as  an  achievement  no  less  arduous  than  it  was  desirable ; 
but  that  very  circumstance,  by  rendering  the  success  as 
glorious  to  the  conqueror  as  it  was  beneficial  to  the  con- 
quered, added  a  new  stimulus  to  my  friend's  yearuings  in 
my  behalf.  It  made  him  feel  a  pride  on  his  own  account, 
as  he  felt  an  interest  on  mine,  in  the  accomplishment  of 
the  task  he  had  set  himself.  For  he  too  was  of  an  am- 
bitious mind,  and  more  desirous  of  success,  as  success 
was  more  difficult.  The  zeal  which  from  the  first  he  felt 
in  his  undertaking,  still  grew  as  he  advanced  in  his 
labours ;  as  the  very  obstacles  he  met  with  forced  him  to 
devote  his  time,  his  attention,  and  his  powers,  more  ex- 
clusively to  his  favourite  purpose  ;  as,  by  keeping  his  mind 
more  steadfastly  fixed  upon,  more  thoroughly  absorbed  in 
this  single  object,  lie  weaned  it  more  entirely  from  all 
other  pursuits  ;  as,  in  short,  by  the  pains  already  bestowed, 
he  felt  more  committed  not  to  cast  them  away  in  a  pusil- 
lanimous dereliction  of  his  plan,  ere  he  reaped  the  fruits 
worthy  of  his  perseverance;  and  he  toiled  and  toiled, 
until  at  last  all  his  other  views  and  occupations  yielded 
to  that  of  my  sole  amendment;  until  he  devoted  to  my 
reforma.tion  alone  all  the  faculties  of  his  understanding, 
and  all  the  energies  of  his  heart;  until  he  no  longer  seemed 
placed  by  Providence  on  tliis  globe  for  any  other  purpose 
but  that  of  making  me  a  worthy  member  of  society;  and 
until — almost  working  himself  up  in  his  honest  enthu- 
siasm, into  a  belief  that  he  had  been  appointed  by  the 
Almighty  as  my  guardian  angel — he  held  himself  respon- 
sible to  his  Creator  and  to  his  conscience  for  my  conduct, 
and  bound  by  the  very  gifts  he  possessed  to  devote  his 
whole  existence  to  the  purpose  of  making  mine  a  blessing. 
To  see  me  wise,  to  see  me  happy,  and  that  through  his 
exertions;  nay,  to  sacrifice,  if  necessary,  his  own  repose 
and  felicity  on  this  globe  to  mine,  became  the  only  bliss 
Spiridion  aspired  to  on  this  earth!  Indeed,  so  fully  had 
he  identified  his  fate  with  mine,  or  rather,  so  entirely  had 
he  reduced  himself  to  the  rank  of  a  mere  instrument  of 
my  salvation — not  indeed  by  mere  faith,  or  even  devout 
practices,  but  by  an  entire  reformation  of  my  conduct — 
that,  had  the  irrevocable  decrees  of  fate  destined  one  o£ 
us  only  to  be  excepted  among  the  host  of  heaven  I  verijy 


! 


ANASTASIVS.  283 

believe  he  would,  with  all  his  ardour  for  excellence,  have 
submitted  to  stoop  to  the  bitter  fruits  of  sin,  in  order  that 
Anastasius  mig-ht  not  be  the  one  discarded  from  the  realms 
of  bliss  eternal ! 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

With  a  temper  such  as  mine,  Spiridion  was,  perhaps,  in 
spite  of  all  his  zeal — and  I  may  add,  all  his  abilities — one 
of  the  persons  worst  calculated  in  some  respects,  not  only 
to  succeed  in  the  more  contracted  purpose  of  liis  father, 
but  even  in  his  own  more  extended  and  more  liberal  de- 
sign: not  only  to  obtain  of  me  a  public  and  ostentatious 
return  to  Christianity,  but  even  a  more  private  though 
more  sincere  relinquishment  of  the  failings  reprobated 
alike  by  every  creed :  for  up  to  the  moment  when  my 
young  friend  undertook  my  reformation,  what  was  I  in 
point  of  mental  development] — A  being  of  mere  instinct; 
one  over  whom  the  cravings  of  the  senses  still  exerted 
unlimited  sway;  who  only  yet  obeyed  the  impulse  of  the 
moment ;  who  had  hitherto  never  learned  to  listen  to  the 
voice  of  reason  or  even  to  weigh  the  dictates  of  prudence ; 
who,  matured  in  body  and  excelling  most  others  in  cor- 
poreal vigour,  was  yet  in  mind  a  mere  child,  and  like  all 
children,  still  acknowledged  no  influence  save  that  of 
superior  physical  powers;  could  be  awed  into  the  per- 
formance of  what  was  right  and  proper  by  no  means  but 
those  of  superior  bodily  strength ;  must  still,  as  it  were, 
have  the  requisite  submission  to  the  rules  of  order  and 
society  rendered  a  habit  by  compulsion,  ere  it  could  be- 
come an  effect  of  deliberate  choice;  and  from  the  very 
circumstance  of  possessing  with  the  imbecility  of  child- 
hood, more  than  the  ordinary  powers  of  mature  manhood, 
must  also  find  more  than  the  ordinary  powers  of  man  to 
cope  with,  before  I  could  be  .subdued  and  broutrht  to  a 
sense  of  duty.  I  might,  indeed,  like  other  children,  in 
some  degree  be  allured  to  good  by  the  imitative  bias  im- 
planted from  the  earliest  period  of  our  existence  in  our 
natures ;  but  like  all  children,  I  was  only  disposed  to  make 
those  the  models  of  my  conduct  who  had  begun  by  mak- 
ing themselves  the  masters  of  my  imagination,  ai\d  to 


284  ANASTASIUS. 

take  counsel  where  I  felt  a  previous  deference  for  the 
person  of  the  counsellor. 

Nor  was  this  all :  not  only  did  I  feel  little  inclination  to 
obey  or  to  imitate  those  less  rich  in  personal  endowments 
than  myself,  but  I  even  hated  the  mere  society  of  who- 
ever submitted  to  the  shackles  of  civilization  more  meekly 
than  I  did  myself.  Like  those  rude  tenants  of  the  forest 
themselves  not  yet  lured  into  subjection  by  civilized 
man,  I  shunned  every  fellow-creature  already  entrapped 
in  his  snares.  I  only  loved  to  herd  with  beings,  Avild, 
indocile,  and  unbridled  like  myself;  and  if,  gregarious 
though  not  sociable,  I  kept  not  so  entirely  aloof  from 
other  individuals  of  my  species  as  only  to  prowl  through 
the  wilds  of  nature  in  solitary  majesty,  and  never  to  stoop 
to  companionship  except  for  the  puipose  of  assuaging 
some  cravings  of  the  sense, — I  could  at  any  rate  only  bear 
to  show  myself  linked  by  choice  to  such  a  set  of  com- 
panions as,  ever  like  myself  prone  to  deride  every  symp- 
tom of  order,  and  to  despise  as  imbecile  tameness  every 
sign  of  respect  for  decency,  were  not  less  anxiously 
avoided  by  the  sober  and  steady  part  of  the  community 
than  the  untamed  lion  or  the  unbroken  colt.  Call  it  effron- 
tery, or  call  it  bashfulncss — temerity  or  cowardice — I  only 
felt  at  ease,  only  thought  myself  safe,  as  it  were,  from  the 
infection  of  contented  slavery,  with  men  who  bade  de- 
fiance to  every  precept  of  morality  and  to  every  injunction 
of  the  law;  and  the  more  an  individual  showed  himself 
broken  into  a  ready  compliance  with  all  the  requisites  of 
social  institutions,  and  fearful  to  outstep  the  received 
manners  and  customs  of  his  neighbours,  the  more  I 
dreaded  and  avoided  him  on  that  very  score  as  a  danger- 
ous person,  a  confederate  in  the  great  plot  against  my 
natural  riglits  and  liberties,  and  a  rancorous  though  secret 
enemy,  who  only  coaxed  and  caressed,  in  order  to  betray 
me  to  his  associates,  and  to  throw  with  more  certainty 
ihe  fatal  noose  round  my  neck. 

Add  to  this,  that,  still  wholly  averse  from  the  most  dis- 
tant thoughts  of  quitting  Islamism,  still  elate  with  all  the 
pride  of  the  turban,  I  slirunk  from  the  idea  of  appearing 
guided  in  any  degree  by  one  not  like  myself  of  the  privi- 
leged caste;  and  would  sooner  have  seemed  to  take  lesson 
or  example  from  a  Turkish  beggar  than  from  a  Greek 
archon. 

Now,  of  the  qualifications  thus  required  in  my  ghostly 
director,  who  possessed  fewer,  and  on  the  contrary,  of  the 


AXASTASIUS.  28& 

attributes  which  disqualified  for  that  office  who  had  more, 
than  my  friend  Spiridion  1  Even  in  point  of  person  he 
wanted  some  of  the  conditions  most  conducive  to  success 
in  the  task  which  he  had  undertaken.  His  figure  was 
elegantly  moulded  indeed ;  but,  far  from  possessing  the 
size  and  strength  requisite  to  support  insolence  in  their 
possessor,  and  to  curb  it  in  others,  he  was  rather  under- 
sized, and  only  appeared  by  my  side  like  the  willow  by 
the  side  of  the  cedar.  Again:  his  features  were  in  as 
perfect  symmetry  as  Grecian  blood  could  make  them; 
but  his  countenance  unarmed  with  that  look  of  boldness 
and  daring  which  represses  the  brazen  stare  of  audacity 
and  defiance,  habitually  only  expressed  gentleness,  nay, 
even  timidity;  and  if  bursts  of  indignation  or  of  rapture 
would  sometimes  change  its  mildness  into  something  so 
lofty  and  conunanding  as  to  awe  any  mind  not  yet  wholly 
impenetrable,  still  could  the  purely  intellectual  ray  which 
shot  from  it  make  little  impression  where — as  in  most 
of  my  associates — all  was  mere  unmixed  matter.  His 
manners,  too,  were  elegant  and  refined ;  but  the  more  they 
breathed  that  elevation  and  dignity  calculated  to  charm 
a  well-educated  circle,  the  less  they  partook  of  that  coarse 
and  vulgar  dash  necessary  to  please  men  of  blunted  feel- 
ings and  a  vitiated  taste.  Reserved  instead  of  forward, 
he  never  had  a  chance  of  making  the  force  of  reason 
silence  the  force  of  lungs ;  and,  too  proud  to  be  conceited, 
he  was  at  best  only  praised  for  discreet  and  becoming 
humility  by  people  who,  apt  themselves  greatly  to  pre- 
sume upon  nothing,  could  not  believe  him  entitled  to  ex- 
traordinary distinction,  who  himself  announced  so  few 
pretensions  to  notice. 

The  sombre  livery  of  Christianity,  too,  so  far  from 
offering  me  any  temptation  to  abjure  my  more  splendidly 
attired  Mohammedan  faith,  rendered  my  friend  a  dark 
spot — almost-a positive  blemish— in  the  brilliant  circle  in 
which  I  moved;  so  that  while  I,  who  knew  his  intrinsic 
worth,  only  the  more  feared  his  watchful  eye,  and  felt 
restrained  by  his  presence,  others,  emboldened  by  his 
modest  exterior,  made  him  the  ol)ject  of  liberties  painful 
to  us  both.  Hence,  though  I  could  not  but  venerate  Spi- 
ridion's  character,  I  felt  somewhat  averse  to  his  com- 
pany ;  and  so  far  from  meeting  his  advances,  I  discouraged 
his  assiduity.  Sometimes,  when  he  pressed  me  to  make 
him  my  associate  and  my  confidant,  I  used  only  to  answer 
jestingly,  and  say,  "  How  can  I  possibly  live  with  you, 


286  AXASTASIUS. 

or  iiit,ro,Uice  you  to  those  I  live  wiih,  who  have  not  one 
idoa  in  cominon  with  them ;  who.se  very  language  seems 
a  dilfereut  idiom,  as  unintelligible  to  them  as  theirs  is  to 
you — who  stare  at  every  unguarded  expression,  shrink 
from  every  spirited  proposal,  and  groan  at  every  bolder 
frolic :  who  stay  at  the  door  where  others  walk  in,  remain 
sober  while  others  revel  in  festivity,  keep  wateh  where 
others  slumber,  and  have  the  folly  to  be  wise  where 
others  have  the  wisdom  to  court  folly  1"  At  other  times 
I  spoke  more  seriously,  and  warned  the  youth  in  sober 
earnest  against  wasting  his  valuable  gifts  in  the  fruitless 
attempt  to  reform  one  by  long  habit  too  deeply  sunk  in 
sin  to  leave  a  chance  of  amendment.  "  How  can  you, 
Spiridion,"  would  I  ask,  "with  your  excellent  under- 
standing, expect  any  good  from  a  wretch  so  thoroughly 
broken  into  every  species  of  evil,  so  suppled  by  long 
practice  into  every  form  of  vice,  so  loose  in  all  his  mental 
liinges,  so  dislocated  in  all  his  moral  joints,  that  all  his 
inclinations  turn  witli  equal  facility  towards  wrong  as 
towards  right  ■?  The  ver)'  transcendency  of  your  merit — 
my  all  good,  all  perfect  friend ! — leaves  you  a  far  less 
chance  of  inoculating  me  with  the  smallest  particle  o-f 
righteous  feeling,  than  might  have  befallen  a  person  of 
inferior  worth,  less  proudly  soaring  above  my  own  level, 
and  whom  I  could  have  met  half  way.  You  and  I  are 
loo  far  asunder  in  the  scale  of  beings  ever  to  come  in 
contact  together,  either  in  this  world  or  the  next."  And 
hereupon,  in  order  to  prove  my  assertion  by  illustrations 
taken  from  facts,  and  to  enjoy  Spiridion's  surprise  and 
horror,  I  would  commen(;e  the  bragiradocio  of  vice,  and 
give  my  friend  such  details  of  my  iniquity  as  made  him 
raise  meekly  to  heaven  his  dark  expressive  eyes;  until, 
unable  any  longer  to  bear  the  revolting  tale,  he  would 
start  up,  run  to  me,  put  his  hand  on  niy  lips,  and  suppli- 
cate me  to  sjjare  at  least  him,  if  not  myself. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  even  Spiridion  felt 
that  nothing  was  so  inimical  to  the  success  of  his  scheme 
as  his  loo  forbidding  fastidiousness.  He  therefore  tried 
to  s!iake  off  his  prudery,  at  least  in  appearance,  to  con- 
quer his  too  evident  disgust  at  the  tone  and  manner  of 
my  haljitual  assoctiates,  and  to  bring  himself  down  more 
nearly  to  their  level.  In  short,  he  gave  up  his  refined 
pursuits  and  his  regular  habits,  for  the  honour  of  holding 
in  my  esteem  tlie  same  rank  with  a  set  of  blustering 
profligates.     Upon   the   sublime   principle   of  seducing' 


I 


ANASTASIUS.  287 

me  to  virtue,  he  beeaine  the  patient  witness  of  all  my 
vices.  He  followed  me  to  those  temples  where  Aphro- 
dite wears  no  veil,  in  order  to  preach  to  me  decency; 
and  more  than  once  in  the  orj^ies  he  assisted  at,  he 
narrowly  escaped  being  the  reeling  victim  to  his  own 
fervour  for  opening  my  eyes  to  the  loathsomeness  of 
intoxication. 

Even  this  effected  not  the  wished-for  purpose.  Liber- 
tinism, as  well  as  refinement,  requires  its  apprenticeship. 
It  is  not  the  attainment  of  a  single  day,  and  sits  as  awk- 
wardly on  the  wearer  as  fastidiousness,  where  it  flows 
not  from  the  heart.  In  my  train,  Spiridion  never  could 
catch  tlie  spirit  of  the  place  or  the  tone  of  the  company. 
His  best  attempts  at  extravagance  only  looked  like 
demureness  run  mad ;  and  if  his  endeavours  to  do  as 
others  did,  and  to  set  my  gayer  friends  at  their  ease,  had 
any  effect  at  all,  it  was  only  that  of  making  them,  while 
he  was  by,  look  as  stiff  and  constrained  as  himself.  The 
moment  his  name  was  announced,  every  countenance 
fell,  and  every  lip  was  sealed  up.  Adieu  from  that  mo- 
ment to  all  that  lightness  of  heart,  all  that  flow  of  spirits, 
without  which  vice  itself,  only  pursued  with  the  dulness 
of  a  task,  loses  its  seductive  gloss,  and  for  want  of  a 
brilliant  exterior  to  dazzle  the  eye,  shows  all  its  inward 
foulness.  Instead  of  rendering  my  associates  pleased 
with  him,  Spiridion  only  contrived  to  put  them  out  of 
conceit  with  themselves.  The  genuine  sons  of  mirth 
and  revelry  dreaded  the  intrusion  of  this  false  brother. 
Abashed  at  the  mere  sisrht  of  one  to  whose  manners  they 
were  stiangers,  and  to  whose  behaviour  they  had  no  clew, 
they  insensibly  in  his  company — without  themselves 
knowing  why — lost  all  their  assurance,  and  felt  their  air 
of  boldness  and  defiance  degenerate  into  a  subdued  and 
humble  manner.  Not  but  that  they  strove  to  resist  the 
novel  influence.  Fearful  lest  in  his  presence  they  should 
appear  to  have  lost  their  wonted  tone,  they  even  talked 
louder  than  usual,  were  wittier,  made  more  jests,  ironi- 
cally wished  me  joy  of  my  new  friend,  and  complained 
of  his  repartee,  as  too  much  for  their  dulness:  but  aside 
and  by  stealth,  they  frowned  at  me  for  having  brought 
an  extinguisher  among  their  jovial  troop;  and  I  myself 
wished,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  that  Spiridion  had 
remained  a  complete  saint,  rather  than  have  become  half 
a  sinner;  for  no  purpose  but  to  spoil  all  the  sport  of 
Genuine  honest  rakes! 


288  ANASTASIUS. 

But  be  a  man  ever  so  sturdy  in  his  resistance  to  the 
voice  of  reason,  still,  if  fated  day  after  day  to  witness  in 
anotlier  the  most  nnabating  solicitude  for  his  reformation, 
the  most  untiring  efforts  to  seduce  him  to  virtue,  and 
these  endeavours  proceeding,  not  from  interested  motives, 
nor  even  from  a  wish  to  display  superiority,  but  solely 
from  so  ardent  a  desire  to  procure  a  beloved  object's 
lasting  welfare,  that  the  monitor  would  even  with  plea- 
sure sacrifice  his  own  happiness  to  that  of  his  friend ; 
if,  above  all,  he  beholds  this  anxiety  for  his  advantage 
show  itself,  not  in  intrusive  advice,  irksome  reproof,  and 
acrimonious  censure,  but  only  in  the  keenest  watchful- 
ness, the  gentlest  persuasion,  the  most  exulting  looks  at 
each  instance  of  success,  and  the  most  evident  dejection 
at  every  failure  in  the  benevolent  attempt;  he  must  have 
in  his  composition  materials  still  harder  and  more  com- 
pact than  mine,  to  remain  wholly  unpenetrated  by  so  deep 
a  devotion  and  so  flattering  a  testimonial,  lurking  under 
reproof  itself;  never  to  catch  himself  wishing  it  cost 
him  less  to  repay  with  some  improvement  such  constant 
pains  for  his  sake,  and  not  to  feel  for  such  vast  sacrifices, 
however  ineffectual,  at  least  a  return  of  something  more 
tlian  cold  gratitude. 

It  is  true,  no  person,  wont  to  combine  cause  and  effect, 
could  expect  that  in  a  vortex  of  unceasing  dissipation, 
hurried  on  without  intermission  to  excesses  of  every 
description,  my  heart,  volatile  by  nature,  and  by  constant 
friction  somewhat  blunted  in  its  feelings,  should  return 
■with  equal  intensity  Spiridion's  affection.  My  regard 
necessarily  must  have  intermittences,  display  fits  and 
starts,  and  be  interrupted  by  intervals  of  forgetfulness, 
nay  of  coolness.  In  the  pursuit  of  pleasure  I  would  shun 
the  sight  of  the  young  Greek,  in  the  intoxication  of  en- 
joyment I  would  neglect  his  society,  in  the  phrensy  of 
passion  I  would  hide  myself  from  his  view  as  from  that 
of  an  unwelcome  monitor;  but  still  did  his  daily  con- 
verse here  and  there  drop  a  seed  of  tenderness  and  com- 
punction in  my  bosom,  often  unheeded  at  first,  and  which 
only  expanded  after  he  had  left  me,  and  after  the  con- 
straint of  his  presence  had  censed  to  obstruct  a  more 
general  survey  of  his  noble  conduct — like  the  corn  which 
can  only  begin  to  germinate  when  screened  from  the  rays 
of  that  sun  tiie  primitive  source  of  its  life  and  its  growth. 
In  the  midst  of  the  raillery  at  Spiridion's  expense  with 
which  1  tried  to  keep  up  my  unconcern,  I  conceived  for 


ANASTASIUS. 


289 


him  a  real  and  deep-rooted  attachment ;  and  though  we 
rarely  associated  together  in  my  hours  of  joy,  the  mo- 
ment I  felt  the  leastgrief  or  disappointment— the  instant 
the  faithlessness  of  a  mistress,  the  treachery  of  a  com- 
panion, or  the  superciliousness  of  a  grandee  cast  the  least 
cloud  over  my  happiness— I  would  leave  all  my  epheme- 
ral friends,  and  run  to  pour  my  feelings  and  my  sorrows 
into  the  bosom  of  their  sole,  real,  and  permanent  deposit- 
ary. From  his  lips  alone  I  expected  the  balm  of  conso- 
lation ;  and  though  long  and  distant  were  my  flights,  still 
would  I  ever  ultimately  return  to  Spiridiou's  arms,  as  the 
stork,  from  the  furtliermost  regions  of  the  globe,  returns 
to  her  unchanging  wonted  nest. 

My  growing  regard  for  Spiridion,  and  my  admiration 
of  his  worth,  awoke  in  my  breast  the  first  cry  of  con- 
science and  the  first  risings  of  shame.  In  the  presence 
of  my  friend  I  would  sometimes  repress  the  rashness  of 
my  temper,  and  regret  the  violence  of  my  passions.  I 
blushed  for  the  vices  in  which  I  had  formerly  exulted. 
For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  took  pains  to  excuse  my 
errors,  and  laid  down  plans  for  rooting  out  my  ill  propen- 
sities. I  went  so  far  as  actually  to  meditate  a  general 
reform ;  nor  did  I  at  any  time  put  off  the  execution  to  a 
vei7  distant  period.  If  I  carried  not  immediately  my 
good  intentions  into  effect;  if  inveterate  habit  frequently 
made  me  relapse  into  mv  evil  doings,  still  did  I  no  longer 
find  in  the  commission  that  zest,  that  unalloyed  pleasure, 
whi(di  they  used  to  afford  me.  I  felt  the  bitterness  of 
remorse  follow  the  sweets  of  indulgence.  80  great  was 
the  revolution  in  my  sentiments,  thai  it  often  made  me 
contemplate  with  envy  the  cahn  diuniily  of  Spiridiou's 
life  and  occupations,  which  before  I  treated  with  con- 
tempt. Looking  over  him,  when  he  would  hurry  the 
completion  of  some  noble  work,  or  lay  by  the  pursuit  of 
some  interesting  study,  in  compliance  with  my  eagerness 
for  some  low  or  trivial  pastime,  I  often  could  not  help 
repining  at  the  difference  of  our  disposition.  "  Ah,"  said 
I,  "Spiridion!  why  was  it  not  my  fate  to  be  brought  u[) 
like  you! — In  me,  too,  nature  had  implanted  many  a  rich 
and  varied  germ.  CUdtivatiou  might  have  made  them 
expand  into  all  that  was  useful  and  beautiful.  Fragraiu 
blossoms  mi<rht  have  been  grafted  on  my  stock  full  of 
vigour  and  sap ;  luxurious  fruits  miglit  have  adorned  my 
branches :  but,  alas !  1  was  born  in  a  desert,  I  grew  up 
remote  from  the  sunshiue  of  civilization,  and  I  put  forth 
Vol.  1.— N 


290  ANASTASIU8. 

only  wild  and  fruitless  boughs,  distorted  by  ceaseless 
storms,  and  casting  wide  around  them  a  drear  and  deadly 
shade !" 

Nor  was  this  all !  Whenever  Spiridion  parted  from 
me  to  go  into  the  presence  of  his  God,  to  prostrate  him- 
self before  his  Maker,  and  to  listen  with  devout  attention 
to  the  loud  hymns  sung  in  praise  of  his  Saviour ;  when- 
ever, in  conjunction  with  all  his  assembled  countrymen, 
he  addressed  tlirough  the  mediation  of  holy  ministers  his 
supplications  to  Heaven  in  the  language  and  with  the  forms 
left  him  by  his  forefathers,  and  which  once  had  been  mine; 
whenever,  in  his  doubts  and  perplexities,  he  derived  com- 
fort from  performing  the  awful  signs  of  his  creed,  and 
attending  the  sacred  rites  of  his  ancient  religion ;  I  panted 
1.0  follow  him  to  the  place  of  my  old  worship,  to  kneel 
down  by  his  side  before  the  holy  doors*  of  the  sanctuary, 
and  to  join  in  his  ardent  and  heartfelt  devotions  at  the 
altar  of  Christ !  I  repined  at  the  solace  he  was  receiving, 
and  of  which  I  had  deprived  myself;  regretted  that  change 
which  only  permitted  me  an  open,  a  public,  and  a  solemn 
approach  to  my  Creator  and  my  Judge  in  a  strange  house, 
under  a  spurious  garb,  and  in  a  language  not  my  own  ; 
loathed  the  Moslemin  rites  which,  converting  every  act  of 
devotion  I  panted  to  perform  into  a  solemn  mum- 
mery, bereft  my  appeal  of  its  earnestness,  my  prayers  of 
their  unction,  and  my  worship  of  its  sanctity;  and  secretly 
vowed — should  I  not  be  able  immediately  to  re-enter  the 
pale  of  the  church  I  had  abandoned — at  least  some  day 
before  my  death  to  compel  tlie  holy  gates  to  open  to  my 
supplications,  and  again  to  admit  within  the  dread  pre- 
cincts now  closed  against  the  renegade,  my  sighs  of 
shame,  of  contrition,  and  of  penitence ! 

Thus  did  the  gentle  timidity  of  Spiridion  end  by  making 
a  deep  impression  on  my  obdurate  heart,  and  resemble 
the  frequent  falling  drop,  which  by  slow  degrees  hollows 
out  the  hardest  stone.  That  empire  over  my  will,  which 
the  young  Greek  never  would  have  obtained  had  he  at- 
tempted to  assume  the  least  authority,  he,  by  an  almost 
unreserved  submission  to  my  own  caprice,  now  for  many 
an  hour  held  undisputed. 

It  is,  however,  true,  that  the  utmost  actual  amendment  in 
my  ways  still  remained  prodigiously  short  of  the  quantity 

*  Before  tli'  holy  doors — In  the  Creek  church  the  priesthood  alone  enter 
the  sanctuary,  which  in  divided  from  the  n»ve  by  a  screen,  the  doors  of  which: 
are  eallvd  the  holy  doors. 


ANASTASlUS.  291 

Tequisite  to  form  a  particularly  valuable  member  of 
•society.  The  effect  of  Spiridion's  exhortations  rarely 
went  beyond  good  resolutions.  Seldom  did  they  ripen 
into  actual  realities  ;  at  least  of  such  a  nature  as  to  claim 
peculiar  praise.  The  occasions  on  which  I  expressed 
the  strongest  determination  to  become  a  new  being  were 
often  those  on  which  1  relapsed  into  some  old  sin  with 
more  impetuosity  than  ever.  The  very  contrition,  how- 
ever, which  followed  the  misdeed  was  already,  in  one 
who  before  gloried  in  evil,  a  great  step  towards  good ;  and 
the  power  in  Spiridion  to  produce  that  feeling,  the  sign 
of  a  vast  hold  obtained  over  my  wayward  soul. 

How  great,  however,  was  the  toil,  how  constant  the 
watching  of  my  friend,  to  retain  that  feeble  sway  over 
my  furious  passions  which  he  had  with  such  labour  ac- 
quired. What  unceasing  terror  he  felt  lest  my  perverse 
instinct  should  again  recover  its  noxious  preponderance 
over  my  still  weak  and  giddy  reason.  How  he  trembled 
for  fear  of  seeing  me  like  a  young  tiger  half-tamed,  at 
the  faintest  scent  of  blood  or  glimpse  of  the  forest,  resume 
all  my  sanguinary  yearnings  and  all  my  roving  inclina- 
tions, break  my  fetters,  recover  my  ferocity,  and  forfeit 
all  the  fruits  of  my  tedious  education. 

And  but  too  often  still  were  all  his  sinister  forebodings 
on  the  point  of  being  realized ;  but  too  often  still  would  I 
sigh  at  the  remembrance  of  those  days  when  no  monitor 
from  within  checked  the  freedom  of  my  will  and  actions ; 
when,  if  the  voice  of  pleasure  called,  or  the  spur  of  in- 
stinct urged,  no  second  thought,  no  extraneous  consider- 
ation, held  me  back ;  when,  above  all,  no  subsequent 
reflection,  no  dread  of  reproof,  imbittered  the  image  of 
the  joys  I  had  snatched  from  the  fleeting  wing  of  time, 
and  had  made  my  own*  beyond  recalling.  Often  still 
would  I  say  to  myself — "  Because  a  little  Greek,  who  is 
neither  my  relation  nor  my  master,  happens  to  owe  to 
me  his  life,  is  he  entitled  to  rob  me  of  my  liberty ;  or 
because  his  mind  is  by  nature's  ordination  so  well  regu- 
lated as  without  effort  or  sacrifice  to  pursue  a  steady 
course,  must  my  soul,  which  that  same  nature  has  been 
pleased  to  render  fiery,  impetuous,  turbulent,  and  without 
rule  or  measure  in  its  motions,  be,  through  dint  of  the 
utmost  violence,  forced  into  the  same  even  pace  V  Often, 
from  feelings  of  contrition  for  my  offences,  I  relapsed 
into  feelings  of  indigjiation  at  the  shackles  imposed  upon 
my  will.  I  railed  at  Spiridion  for  thwarting  my  incbna- 
N3 


292  ANASTASIUS, 

tions,  and  at  myself  for  submitting  to  his  yoke.  The 
influence  he  had  gained  over  my  mind  only  appeared  to 
me  a  usurpation,  and  the  restraint  he  put  upon  my  pas- 
sions a  tyranny.  The  fear  I  felt  of  his  reproaches,  and 
the  care  I  took  to  avoid  his  displeasure,  no  longer  seemed 
to  me  aught  but  a  wanton  surrender  of  my  rightful  inde- 
pendence, a  disgraceful  prostration  of  my  freedom,  which 
made  me  weep  with  anguish,  or  rather  with  rage.  "  Is 
it  I — is  it  Anastasius,"  I  exclaimed,  "who  suffers  the 
silly  and  minute  formalities  of  society,  like  the  small  but 
numerous  threads  and  meshes  of  a  net,  to  confine  every 
limb,  and  to  impede  every  motion  1  Is  it  I  who  have  lost 
all  free  agency,  and,  like  a  puppet,  can  only  obey  the 
pleasures  of  anotlier  ]"  And  at  these  mortifying  thoughts 
shame  burned  in  my  cheek,  and  anger  sat  quivering  on 
my  lips. 

1  then  resolved  to  tear  asunder  my  slight  yet  heavy 
trammels,  to  assert  my  freedom,  and  afresh  roam  at 
liberty ;  but  the  passions  long  restrained  only  broke 
loose  with  more  resistless  fury.  The  act  intended  to 
manifest  my  recovered  liberty  was  always  some  extrava- 
gance far  exceeding  the  most  outrageous  of  my  former 
follies. 

My  friend  on  these  occasions  seemed  lost  in  despair. 
Breathless,  except  when  now  and  then  a  deep  sigh  forced 
its  way  from  the  iiunost  of  liissoul — like  the  slow  bubble 
whicli  rises  from  tlie  veiy  l)ottom  of  the  seemingly  mo- 
tionless pool — he  hung  his  head  in  gloomy  silence ;  while, 
proud  of  my  feat,  and  like  the  steed  turned  loose  in  the 
meadow,  1  snorted,  sliook  my  mane,  and  looked  round 
with  fierce  and  taunting  eye  ;  until,  after  a  certain  time, 
the  effervescence  of  my  blood  again  subsiding,  I  returned 
to  a  sense  of  my  folly,  felt  contrition  for  my  excesses, 
and  blushed  at  my  biavado.  Then  again  I  execrated  my 
ungov(!rnable  temper,I)eat  in  anguish  my  throbbing  breast, 
convulsively  grasped  my  friend's  retiring  hand,  and,  by 
confessing  how  little  I  deserved  it,  in  tlie  end  obtained 
his  forgiveness.  Spiridion,  who  the  moment  before  had 
renounced  all  hopes  of  my  reform,  now  again  began  with 
fresh  ardour  to  toil  at  his  chimera. 

The  fatlier's  less  pertinacnons  dream  meanwhile  liiul 
subsided.  .Spiridion  still  mrglit  expect  some  day  to  bring 
me  to  the  path  of  virtue,  Mavro<;ordato  clearly  saw  tliat 
he  was  not  the  person  destined  to  lead  me  back  into 
that  of  tlie  Greek  church.     He  almost  began  to  think  it 


ANASTASirs.  293 

possible  tliat,  insteafl  of  his  son's  reclaiming  me  to  Chris- 
tianity, I  might  end  by  seducing  his  son  to  Mohammed- 
anism. At  any  rate,  he  now  deemed  the  free  admittance 
of  a  personage  of  my  description  into  the  interior  of  his 
family,  as  equally  injurious  to  the  moral  character  of  that 
son  and  to  the  conmiercial  credit  of  his  house.  He  first 
endeavoured  to  intimate  this  new  opinion  to  me  by  a 
studied  coolness  and  reserve,  totally  different  from  his 
former  warmth  of  manner.  Unluckily,  as  I  never  had 
courted  his  favour,  I  heeded  not  the  change,  nor  consid- 
ered the  caprice  of  the  sire  as  a  reason  for  withdrawing 
my  countenance  from  the  unoffending  son.  Mavrocor- 
dato,  therefore,  was  at  last  obliged  to  be  more  explicit. 

I  had  one  evening  made  myself  rather  conspicuous  at 
Kaiidilly.  The  next  morning,  as  I  was  sitting  with  Spi- 
ridion,  in  walked  his  father,  who  had  staid  from  his  office 
on  purpose.  He  inquired  very  civilly  after  my  health, 
hoped  1  had  not  caught  cold,  and  then  apprized  me  in 
terms  polite  but  peremptory,  that  his  occupations  no  longer 
permitted  him  to  m;inage  my  property,  nor  his  views  to 
cultivate  my  society ;  returned  me  the  remains  of  my 
deposite,  wliich  my  frequent  drafts  liad  greatly  reduced, 
presented  me  with  an  excjuisitely  penned  abstract  of  my 
account,  which  he  begged  me  to  cast  up  at  my  leisure ; 
recommended  me  to  look  out  for  a  lodging  more  conve- 
nient for  my  purposes,  and  to  drop  ua  intimacy  with  his 
son  of  use  to  ncitlier;  and,  taking  his  leave,  wished  me 
all  manner  of  liappiness. 

However  politely  Mavrocordato's  compliment  miglit 
he  turned  as  to  the  form,  I  couid  not  lielp  thinking  it  very 
rude  as  to  the  matter.  His  behaviour  seemed  to  me  both 
unfair  and  unliandsome.  In  fact,  was  I  the  one  that  had 
made  the  first  advances  to  this  purse-proud  merchant  I 
or  had  he,  on  the  contrary,  first  sought  of  me  a  renewal 
of  intimacy  ? — He  might  have  left  me  alone  if  he  had 
chosen.  1  asked  not  of  him  any  attention ;  I  expected 
not  any  civility ;  I  should  have  been  perfectly  contented 
if  the  accidental  meeting  had  ended,  as  it  had  begun,  in 
the  market-place.  But  to  invite  me  to  his  house,  to  press 
upon  me  his  hospitalities,  to  admit  of  no  denial  to  his 
solicitations ;  and  all  this  only  in  order  that  he  miglit  end 
the  farce  by  turning  me  out  of  doors  wliich  I  hardly  ever 
vouchsafed  to  enter — and  that  Avithout  the  least  prepara-  - 
tion  or  warning! — It  was  what  I  could  not  brook,  and 
what  I  promised  myself  some  day  to  resent.    Meantime, 


294  ANASTASirS, 

I  determmed  not  to  trespass  another  instant  on  the  for- 
bearance of  one  so  anxious  to  recall  his  bounty,  and  spiie 
of  all  Spiridion's  entreaties  that  I  should  at  least  stay  tlie 
night,  and  all  his  endeavours  to  convince  me  that  his 
father  could  not  mean  things  as  1  understood  them,  I 
Avalked  out.  Nor  did  I,  until  launched  into  the  very  middle 
of  the  street,  stop  to  consider  how  I  was  to  dispose  of 
my  person  and  my  casket.  Then  indeed  I  felt  a  little  at 
a  loss,  and  coirid  have  liked  to  walk  in  again.  But  this 
my  pride  forbade. 

I  had  not  ruminated  half  a  minute  before  I  wondered 
liow  I  could  have  felt  any  embarrassment  at  all.  Within 
a  stone's  throw  of  Mavrocordato  lived  the  fittest  person 
to  succeed  him  as  depositary  of  my  fortune :  namely,  his 
most  rancorous  enemy — an  Armenian,  and  a  casliier,  who 
hated  him  with  all  the  cordiality  of  oiie  whose  commer- 
cial schemes  had  been  less  successful  than  his  own. 
There  was  no  species  of  miscliief  which  the  envious  Aidin 
had  not  attempted  to  do  his  more  fortunate  or  more  skilful 
neighbour.  First,  he  had  endeavoured  to  ruin  him  by 
representing  his  wealth  as  a  mere  fabrication.  Unable 
to  succeed  this  way  he  took  the  contrary  method,  and 
laid  snares  no  longer  against  his  credit,  but  against  his 
life,  by  accusing  him  of  having  doubled  his  fortune  through 
means  of  the  treasure  of  a  beheaded  vizier,  found  con- 
cealed in  his  garden.  But  he  was  fated  to  be  foiled  alike 
in  the  most  opposite  attempts.  For  when,  in  order  to 
circumstantiate  his  evidence,  he  showed  the  officers  of 
the  fisc  the  place  in  the  Greek's  garden  where  from  his 
window  he  had  with  his  own  eyes  seen  him  dig  out  the 
ponderous  chests  filled  with  gold  and  jewels,  something 
more  ponderous  was  found  still  unremoved ;  namely,  such 
an  immense  and  continuous  stratum  of  solid  rock,  as^ 
without  being  great  mineralogists,  the  very  satellites  of 
the  hazne  judged  to  have  lain  there  undisturbed  since  the 
flood. 

Now,  the  personage  who  had  been  at  all  these  pains  to 
stamp  hitnself  a  rogue,  I  sagaciously  selected  for  the 
depositary  of  my  money.  As  to  my  person,  I  felt  little 
at  a  loss  how  to  dispose  of  it. 


ANASTASIVS.  295 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

My  worldly  affairs  thus  prudently  arranged,  I  attended 
to  my  spiritual  concerns ;  and  to  compensate  for  not  eat- 
ing cavier  during  the  Greek  Lent,  properly  fasted  during 
the  Turkish  Ramadan.  Every  one  knows  how  trying 
that  month  is  to  the  temper  of  the  good  Mohammedan. 
As  long  as  the  sun  lingers  above  the  horizon,  he  dares 
not  refresh  himself  with  the  least  morsel  of  food,  the 
least  drop  of  liquor,  or  even  the  least  whiff  of  tobacco. 
His  whole  occupation  consists  in  counting  his  beads,  and 
in  contemplating  the  slow-moving  hand  of  his  timepiece, 
until  the  moment  when  the  luminary  of  the  world  is 
pleased  to  release  him  from  his  abstinence,  by  withdraw- 
ing its  irksome  orb  from  his  sight.  Sufficiently  disa- 
greeable as  it  miglit  appear  for  every  purpose  of  salva- 
tion when  it  falls  in  winter,  the  month  of  the  Ramadan 
seems  absolutely  invented  for  the  destruction  of  the  Mos- 
lemin  species,  when  the  procession  of  the  lunar  months 
brings  it  round  to  the  longest  and  hottest  days  of  sum- 
mer. It  is  then  that  the  Christian,  rising  from  a  plenteous 
meal,  if  lie  has  couimou  prudence,  avoids  all  intercourse 
"whatever  with  the  fasting  Turk,  whose  devout  stomach, 
void  of  all  but  sourness  and  bile,  grumbles  loudly  over 
each  chance-medley  of  the  sort  as  over  malice  prepense, 
rises  in  anger  at  the  supposed  insult,  and  vents  its  acri- 
mony in  bitter  invectives. 

Sometimes  a  demure  Moslemin  may  be  seen  looking 
anxiously  round  on  all  sides,  to  ascertain  that  he  is  not 
Avatehed.  The  moment  he  thinks  himself  unobserved, 
he  turns  the  corner  of  some  of  the  Christian  streets  of 
Pera  or  Galata,  and  ascends  the  infidel  hill.*  Led  on,  as  it 
were,  by  mere  listlessness  from  one  turn  to  another,  the 
gentleman  still  advances,  until  perverse  cliance  brings 
him  just  opposite  a  confectioner's  or  a  pastry-cook's  shop. 
From  sheer  absence  of  mind  he  indeed  steps  in,  but  he 
buys  nothing.  Allah  forbid  !  He  only  from  pure  curi- 
osity examines  the  various  eatables  laid  out  on  the 
counter.     He  handles,  he  weighs  them,  he  asks  their 

*  The  infidel  hill :— on  which  stands  Pera,  the  quarter  of  the  Franks. 


296  AXASTASIUS. 

names,  their  price,  and  their  ingredients.  What  is  this  ? 
what  do  you  call  that?  Where  does  thai  other  come 
from  ?  Thus  discoursing  to  while  away  time,  he  by  little 
and  little  reaches  the  inner  extremity  of  the  shop ;  and 
finding  himself  at  the  entrance  of  the  recess,  in  which 
by  mere  accident  happens  to  have  been  set  out,  as  if  in 
readiness  for  some  expected  visiter,  a  choice  collation 
of  all  that  can  recruit  an  exhausted  stomach — ^he  enters 
it  from  mere  thoughtlessness,  and  without  the  least  inten- 
tion. Witiiout  the  least  intention  also  the  pastiy-cook, 
the  moment  he  sees'  his  friend  slunk  into  the  dainty 
closet,  turns  upon  him  the  key  of  the  door,  and  slips  it  into 
his  pocket.  Perhaps  he  even  goes  out  on  a  message, 
and  half  an  hour  or  so  elapses  ere  he  remembers  his  un- 
accountable act  of  forgetfulness.  He  however  at  last 
recolhuns  his  prisoner,  who  all  the  while  would  have 
made  a  furious  outcry,  but  has  abstained  lest  he  should 
unjustly  be  suspected  of  having  gone  in  for  the  purpose 
of  tasting  the  forbidden  fruit.  The  Greek  unlocks  the 
door  with  every  expression  of  apology  and  regret ;  the 
Turk  walks  out  in  high  dudgeon,  severely  rebukes  the 
vender  of  cakes,  and  returns  home  weaker  with  inanition 
than  ever.  But  when  the  pastiy-cook  looks  into  his 
recess  to  put  things  in  order,  he  finds,  by  a  wonderful 
piece  of  magic,  the  pies  condensed  into  piastres,  and  the 
sugar-plums  transformed  into  sequins. 

i  suj)pose  my  new  banker  suspected  me  of  sometimes 
dealing  in  this  uidawful  sorcery,  and  wished  to  destroy 
the  transmutations  in  their  very  source.  He  disappeared 
with  my  casket.  On  the  twentieth  day  of  the  Ramadan 
J  found  myself  with  a  tremendous  appetite,  five  sequins 
in  my  pocket,  and  not  a  farthing  elsewhere. 

Kver  since  my  final  exit  from  Mavrocordato's  house, 
Spiridion  had  kept  completely  aloof  from  me,  and  I  had 
not  once  seen  my  till  then  inseparable  fiiend.  That  he 
was  a  dutiful  son  I  knew;  that  he  would  not  only  fly  in 
the  face  of  his  father's  commands  I  had  expected;  but 
1  was  not  prepared  to  find  that  where  his  friend  was  con- 
cerned he  would  conform  to  his  parent's  orders  with 
such  scrupulous  punctuality.  It  mortified  me ;  and  as 
prompt  as  ever  to  value  things  only  when  forbidden,  I 
now  began  to  long  for  the  youtli's  company;  "After  all, 
how  preferable,"  thought  I,  "  was  his  society  to  any 
other.  What  information  he  possessed — what  know- 
ledge he  imparted  ! — How  full  of  resource  was  his  mind, 


ANASTASIUS.  297 

and  of  variety  his  conversation ! — How  different  from  the 
empty  rattle  of  men  whose  ideas  never  moved  out  of  a 
single  narrow  circle,  and  whose  efforts  at  jocoseness  ab- 
solutely sickened  witli  repetition.  How  many  more 
acute,  observations  on  life  at  large  he  used  to  make,  who 
only  seemed  to  view  its  storms  and  whirlwinds  from  a 
narrow  estuary  deep  inland,  than  those  who  sailed  down 
Its  fullest  tide.  The  very  reflection  of  his  own  excel- 
lence cast  a  lustre  upon  those  who  associated  with  him. 
They  felt  greater  self-esteem  from  being  in  his  company ;" 
— and  I  could  not  forgive  myself  for  so  wantonly  for- 
feiting what  was  so  valuable  in  itself,  and  so  willingly 
bestowed ! 

Yet,  if  even  prior  to  the  loss  of  all  I  possessed  I  had 
felt  too  proud  to  seek  one  who  shunned  me,  it  may  well 
be  supposed  that  smce  that  event  I  should  more  than 
ever  spurn  all  attempts  at  renewing  the  intercourse. 
However  great  my  distress  might  be,  I  would  rather 
have  thrown  myself  upon  the  generosity  of  an  absolute 
stranger,  than  upon  the  kindness  of  a  friend  who  forgot 
me.  Two  days,  however,  had  scarce  elapsed  since  the 
retreat  of  the  Armenian,  when,  as  I  lay  despondingly  oa 
my  couch,  who  should  I  see  standing  beside  me,  hke  a 
cheering  vision,  but  my  still  true  vSpiridion !  The  disap- 
pearance of  the  banker  had  soon  been  published,  and 
amply  commented  upon  in  the  commercial  world.  My 
friend  knew  my  little  property  to  be  in  his  hands.  He 
had  immediately  inquired  into  my  circumstances;  and, 
apprized  of  my  ruin,  had  come  to  my  relief. 

His  pecuniary  otters  he  found  me  unwilling  to  accept. 
"  Your  friendship,  Spiridion,"  cried  I,  "  is  dearer  to  me 
than  ever;  but  away  with  your  purse!  It  otfends  my 
eyes.     I  love  you  too  well  to  become  your  debtor." 

"Selim,"  replied  the  son  of  .Mavrocordato,  "if  what 
affection  bestows  demands  a  return  of  gratitude,  believe 
me,  it  is  too  late  to  escape  the  irksome  builhen.  You 
are  already  too  deeply  in  my  debt  for  all  the  anxiety  you 
have  cost  me.  In  the  scale  in  whicli  your  reformation 
has  outweighed  all  consideration  of  my  own  repose,  ia 
which  your  welfare  has  preponderated  over  all  my  in- 
terests and  schemes  in  life,  a  handful  of  paltry  gold  is 
but  a  speck  of  dust  devoid  of  weight  I" 

I  felt  the  truth  of  this  speech,  bade  my  foolish  pride 
be  silent,  and  art-opted  the  money.  " 'i'liis  gift,"  ex- 
claimed I,  clasping  the  purse  with  both  hands,  and  placing 


'298  A.VASTASIUS. 

it  next  mj-  heart,  "  will  enable  me  to  prove  that  your 
friendsliip  has  not  been  thrown  away ;  that  the  seeds  you 
toiled  to  sow,  thoui^^h  slow  to  rise,  have  sprnnj^  up  at 
last :  their  fruits  will  soon  appear.  Hencefortli,  Spiridion, 
I  tear  from  my  bosom  every  root  of  evil ;  heneeforth  I 
renounce  all  the  pleasures  of  vice ;  hencefortli  I  become 
a  new  man — thy  boast,  thy  credit,  and  thy  glory !" 

These  words,  the  first  of  the  sort  my  friend  had  ever 
heard  me  utter,  sounded  in  his  ears  like  music  from 
heaven.  Tears  of  emotion  started  from  his  eyes — he 
embraced  me  with  convulsive  rapture.  What  more  coidd 
he  wish  for?  His  lonsc-sought  triumph  was  complete; 
and  like  men  on  the  morrow  of  a  victor}'  which  terminates 
a  toilsome  war,  we  had  only  to  sit  down  and  discuss  at 
leisure  the  new  plan  of  life  suitable  to  my  new  resolu- 
tions. Upon  this  we  enlarged  as  upon  a  delightful  dream 
soon  to  be  realized,  until,  fearing  to  sta}^  longer,  Spiridion 
at  last  rose  to  tear  himself  away  from  me. 

Evening  was  stealing  on,  and  darkness  beginning  to 
let  loose  all  the  hounds  of  hell  that  shunned  the  light  of 
day.  It  was  scarce  safe  for  Spiridion  to  return  home 
without  some  escort.  "  Stay,  Spirro,"  said  I ;  "  this 
once  let  me  be  permitted  to  accompany  you.  Even 
your  father,  just  now,  I  am  sure,  would  wish  to  know 
me  by  your  side."     Spiridion  consented. 

Our  way  lay  by  a  coffee-house,  the  favourite  resort  of 
those  against  whom  other  doors  were  shut.  On  the 
threshold  stood  lounging  a  boy — the  son  of  a  capidjce* 
of  the  Porte — with  whom  I  had  already  before  once  or 
twice  had  a  tiff.  Achmet  was  his  name — insolence  his 
profession.  His  behaviour  had  made  him  the  pest  of  the 
whole  neighbourhood.  As  soon  as  he  spied  us,  "  What," 
cried  he,  "  the  old  inseparables  again  risen  from  the  dead ! 
See  how  the  hound  lugs  the  hog  by  tlie  cars!"  At  these 
insulting  words  I  felt  the  blood  rush  in  my  face;  rage 
convulsed  my  whole  body:  I  grasped  myhandjar;  but 
at  the  same  instant  the  remembianee  of  my  recent 
promise  to  my  friend  Hashed  across  my  mind;  and, 
smothering  my  indignation,  I  silently  hurried  on. 

Spiridion,  who  had  turned  pale  with  anticipation  of  the 
consequences  of  so  grievous  an  insult,  observed  the 
.-struggle  in  my  bosom :  "  Anastasius,"  said  he,  "  I  see 

*  Capidjec  : — genlleman  usher  of  the  arsind  signor.  The  capidjees  aro 
wont  to  carry  to  tlie  governors  of  provinces  the  commands,  favours,  and  bow- 
Btringsofthe  sulian. 


ANASTASIUS.  299 

all,  and  I  thank  you.  But  suffer  me  to  pursue  my  way 
alone.  In  the  land  where  my  ancestors  held  the  sceptre 
I  am  become  thy  reproach." 

'•  What,  Spiridion,"  replied  I ;  "  when  you  come  to 
save  me,  I  leave  you  in  danger  I  I  leave  you  exposed  to 
the  insult  of  the  bigot,  and  the  blows  of  the  ruffian  ? 
Never !"  And  spite  of  my  friend's  entreaties,  I  continued 
by  his  side  until  his  own  door  opened  to  afford  him  safety. 
I  then  pressed  his  hand,  bade  him  farewell,  and  went  back. 

The  lateness  of  the  hour  quickened  my  pace.  In  the 
most  lonely  part  of  the  road  I  overtook  Achmet,  like- 
wise on  his  way  home,  and  passed  by  the  swaggering 
coxcomb. 

His  sagacity  had  construed  into  fear  my  preceding 
endurance.  Accordingly,  his  insolence  only  increased. 
"  Coward,"  exclaimed  he,  "  you  run  too  fast  for  me  to 
take  the  pains  of  pursuing  you.  But  I  depute  this  mes- 
senger to  give  you  my  errand ;"  and  on  my  looking  round 
to  see  what  he  meant,  I  felt  a  huge  stone  graze  my  ear. 
But  for  the  motion  of  turning  round  my  head,  it  must 
have  broken  my  jaM'. 

Human  patience  could  endure  no  longer.  I  faced  the 
ruffian.  Each  lifted  his  hand,  but  my  dagger  went  fii'st 
to  the  heart.  My  antagonist  fell  without  a  groan.  I 
paused  a  while,  but  he  had  ceased  to  breathe  !  Raising 
the  lifeless  body,  I  threw  it  over  a  wall  into  an  adjohiing 
cemetery,  and  walked  off. 

No  mortal  had  beheld  the  conflict ;  but  the  prior  pro- 
vocation had  had  all  Kandilly  for  a  witness.  What  the 
darkness  of  the  night  a  while  concealed  the  dawn  of  the 
next  day  could  not  fail  to  bring  to  light ;  and  to  no  one 
but  me  would  the  deed  be  imputed.  Achmet,  indeed, 
was  abhorred,  but  his  parents  were  respected.  Having, 
therefore,  much  to  apprehend  from  the  law,  and  little 
means  to  puichase  justice,  I  determined  not  to  try  which 
would  carry  the  day. 

Still,  however,  before  I  abandoned  for  ever  the  abode 
and  the  vicinity  of  my  friend,  I  determined  to  see  hiui 
once  more.  By  another  way  1  ran  back  to  his  hoiisc. 
For  the  first  time  since  his  door  had  been  shut  against 
me,  I  knocked.  He  recognised  my  hand.  It  was  the 
rap  I  used  to  give  wlien,  coming  in  late  from  my  even- 
ing rambles,  1  feared  to  disturb  his  father.  He  himself 
opened  to  me. 

*' Spiridion,"  said  I,  "but  an  hour  age  I  pledged  all  I 


300  ANASTASIUS. 

could  pledge  to  make  you  witness  in  me  an  entire  reform. 
Alas,  it  is  no  longer  time !  I  only  return  so  soon  to  bid 
you  adieu  for  ever.  Forget  me ;  forget  a  wretch  whom 
his  ill  fate  pursues ;  and  thank  Heaven  you  are  thus  rid 
of  one  on  whom  misfortune  lias  set  its  mark  !" 

I  then  told  hiin  what  had  happened ;  mentioned  where 
I  meant  to  go ;  and  imploring  the  Almighty  to  shower  on 
my  tender,  my  last,  my  only  friend  his  choicest  blessings, 
once  more  pressed  to  my  arms  the  companion  of  my 
childhood,  and  broke  away. 

But  little  time  was  requisite  to  deliver  over  the  few 
articles  I  left  behind  me  to  the  care  of  my  hostess,  to 
saddle  my  horse,  and  to  ride  to  Iskindar.*  There  I 
crossed  the  channel,  entered  Constantinople  just  at  the 
dawn  of  day,  and  traversing  its  long  and  still  empty 
streets  from  end  to  end,  went  out  again  at  the  gate  of 
Adrianople,  across  field  and  common,  gained  the  western 
road,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  day  reached  the  town 
of  Rodosto. 

In  thirs  out  of  the  way  place,  I  thought  myself  safe,  at 
least  for  a  few  hours ;  and  feeling  much  fatigued,  went 
to  a  kind  of  coffee-house,  asked  for  a  private  room,  and 
lay  down  on  the  lloor  to  take  a  little  rest.  I  had  scarce 
begun  to  doze  when  I  was  suddenly  roused  by  a  loud 
knocking ;  and  by  a  sort  of  rumour,  inmiediately  ensuing, 
of  wliich  I  seemed  the  olycct. 

I  listened,  though  without  getting  up,  and  for  some 
time  could  only  coufu.sedly  make  out  incjuiries  on  one 
side  and  answers  on  the  other.  At  last  one  sentence 
distinctly  struck  my  ear,  uttered  by  some  one  of  the  party 
within.  "  Jle  is  up-stairs,  and  alone."  It  sufficed  for  my 
information.  Nothing  could  be  more  evident  than  that 
my  exploit  iiad  been  discovered,  and  my  footsteps  traced. 
Tlie  only  thing  now  left  for  me  to  do  was,  to  sell  my 
devoted  life  as  dear  as  possible.  Already  was  the  posse 
hurrying  up  stairs,  and  approaching  my  door.  I  drew 
my  yatagan,  and  cried  out  witli  all  my  might,  "  Whoever 
enters  dies !""  But  such  was  the  noi.se  outside,  that  my 
threat  remained  unheard.  At  least  it  was  not  heeded. 
'I'he  door  burst  open ;  in  rushed  my  pursuer,  and  down 
fell  my  sword — upon  my  own  Spiridion ! 

Tlie  sight  of  my  friend  had  not  been  able  entirely  to 
stop  my  uplifted  arm ;  but  it  broke  the  force  of  the  blow. 

*  Iskindar;  Scutiri— situated  ojiposile  C'onstaiitiiioi)le  on  the  Awatic  slinn,'. 


ANASTASIUS.  301 

The  weapon  fell  innocuous ;  and  Spiridion,  at  first  quite 
breathless,  and  unable  to  utter  a  syllable,  by  degrees 
recovered  his  breath,  sat  down,  and  spoke  as  follows: 

"You  are  surprised,  Anastasius,  to  see  me  again;  but 
listen.  When  last  night,  after  your  departure,  I  lay  down 
to  sleep,  I  thought  I  had  entirely  conquered  my  first  im- 
pulse to  follow  you.  I  thought  that  among  the  opposite 
duties  contending  in  my  breast,  those  which  I  owed  my 
father  had  a  superior  claim  ;  and  thought  so  the  more  as 
my  wishes  leaned  the  other  way.  In  vain,  however,  I 
closed  my  eyes  ! — my  mind  found  no  rest,  and  a  feeling 
of  inexpressible  anguish  invaded  my  body.  While  I  lay, 
oppressed  by  an  insufferable  weiglit,  but  unable  to  stir 
and  throw  it  off,  my  door  gently  opened,  and  without  the 
least  noise  a  form  glided  in  which  approached  my  bed- 
side. It  was  that  of  my  mother — of  her  whom  I  loved, 
and  lost  the  first ! 

"  '  My  son,'  it  said,  looking  sternly  in  my  face,  '  vows 
of  gratitude  are  recorded  by  angels,  and  only  demons 
blot  them  out.  He  who  at  this  moment,  breaking  the 
solemn  silence  of  the  night,  with  his  horse's  heavy  hoof 
shakes  the  ground  over  my  head,  saved  thy  life  at  the  risk 
of  his  own,  in  days  that  seem  forgotten.  For  having  saved 
it  a  second  time,  a  second  time  liis  own  is  threatened.  In 
return  for  these  deeds  of  love,  my  son,  thy  very  father  once 
made  thee  promise;  to  legard  him  as  a  brother,  and  for 
ever  to  stand  by  him,  both  in  good  and  adverse  fortune — 
and  thou  wouldst  now  leave  thy  brother  to  wander  through 
the  world  a  lonely,  miprotected,  friendless  outcast!' 

"  Here  the  dread  siiade  ceased  to  speak.  But  much  as 
I  tried  to  answer,  I  had  not  tiie  power.  My  jaw  Avas  of 
stone,  and  my  tongue  cleaved  to  my  mouth.  The  vision 
disappeared.  A  loud  clap  like  thunder  shook  to  dust  my 
imaginary  fetters.     I  started  up  and  obeyed !" 

Spiridion  said  no  more.  I  looked  at  him  in  astonish- 
ment. "Is  it  you,"  I  cried,  "my  friend! — till  now  so 
inaccessible  to  every  form  of  superstition — who  mistake 
the  dream  of  an  aaitated  mind,  or  the  nightmare  of  a  suf- 
fering frame,  for  tlie  directing  voice  of  Heaven  ]  Ah  !.t;re 
you  give  way  to  such  delusions,  reflect  but  one  monu'ut 
on  wlial  may  be  the  consequence.  Consider  who  you 
are — what  destinies  await  you.  Think  that  on  you 
depends  the  hajjpiness  of  an  affectionate  parent,  and  the 
preservation  of  a  noble  family;  that  for  you  are  reserved 
the  res{K'ct  of  dependants,  the  wealth  of  relations,  and 


302  ANASTASIUS. 

the  honours  of  the  world :  think  that  I,  on  the  contrary, 
am  a  wretch,  ruined  in  fortune  and  in  fame,  long  ago 
rejected  by  his  friends  and  family,  now  renounced  by  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  proscribed  by  the  laws  of  his  country; 
then  say  to  yourself  that  between  us  no  further  society 
can  subsist — no  common  interests  can  be  maintained; 
that,  far  from  offering  to  follow  my  fate,  it  is  your  busi- 
ness to  fly  from  my  society  as  from  a  pestilence,  and  to 
avoid  the  contagion  of  my  breath,  which  must  at  last 
involve  all  tliat  remain  within  its  reach.  I  myself  could 
not  allow  you  to  barter  your  advantages  against  my 
wretchedness;  could  not  permit  the  sufferings  of  my 
friend  to  increase  the  sins  already  on  my  head!  I 
myself  must  implore  you  to  remember  your  now  grieving 
father,  and  to  forget  for  ever  the  lost,  the  miserable 
Anastasius." 

"  Cruel  friend !"  replied  Spiridion,  "  talk  not  to  me  of 
the  world !  Was  1  ever  elate  with  its  blandishments,  or 
solicitous  for  its  distinctions'?  My  father,  indeed — but 
wlio  more  earnestly  than  he  ever  urged  my  prior  duty 
to  my  God?  Who  oftener  dwelt  upon  the  paramount 
sacrednessof  the  engagements  contracted  with  Heaven  ? 
Let  then  the  vision  I  beheld  have  been  real,  or  have  arisen 
only  within  the  compass  of  my  heated  brain ;  still  has  it 
spoken  what  1  must  accomplish;  still  dare  I  not  desert 
my  brother.  Since  then  Heaven  wills  you  to  go,  I  must 
not  stay  behind.  Under  Hassan's  banners  my  friend 
purposes  afresh  in  Egypt  to  pursue  the  path  of  fame. 
Well! — with  him  I  may  go ;  with  him  I  too  may  run  the 
race  of  gloiy!  We  shall  fight  side  by  side.  Perhaps  I 
may  some  day  save  your  life,  as  you  once  saved  mine. 
I'erhaps,  vouchsafed  the  bliss  to  shed  my  blood  for  my 
friend,  I  may  die  on  his  bosom  tlie  death  of  the  brave  ! 
Or,  if  Providence  should  guard  us  both,  should  permit 
both  to  live — triumphant  with  thee,  I  shall  with  thee 
return;  and  with  thine  lay  my  laurels  at  my  exulting 
father's  feet !  Does  not  Mavrocordato  himself — prizing 
his  son's  elevation  beyond  that  son's  existence — destine 
me  to  those  high  offices  whose  approach  is  over  daggers, 
and  whose  end  is  the  bowstring?  Thus  already  inured 
to  danger  ere  I  enter  my  career,  alieady  armed  with 
martial  renown  ere  1  encounter  my  rivals,  I  shall  with 
greater  confidence  commence  the  struggle,  and  with 
greater  vigour  contend  for  the  prize  sought  by  a  father's 
ambition  under  a  soji's  borrowed  name !" 


ANASTASIUS.  305 

"  No,  Spiridion,"  answered  I,  "  it  shall  not  be !  In 
accompanying  me,  thou  goest  not  to  renown ;  thou  goest 
only  to  disgrace,  perhaps  to  perdition.  Tliou  assumest 
the  appearance  of  my  accomplice.  Thou  cos'erest  with 
dishonour  a  thus  far  spotless  name.  Thanks  to  my  con- 
duct, I  am  alone  in  the  world ;  I  belong  to  no  one  else ; 
I  am  a  twig  torn  from  its  stem,  that  strikes  no  root,  and 
bears  no  blossom.  My  existence  goes  for  nothing  in  tlie 
sum  of  earthly  things !  My  lonely  fate  involves  no  other 
!  destiny!  The  weed  of  my  sterile  existence  any  one  may 
pluck  up,  may  tear,  may  cast  upon  a  dunghill — and  no 
loss  be  felt,  no  regret  expressed,  no  cognizance  taken  of 
the  deed,  no  tear,  save  by  thee,  shed  over  my  remains,  nor 
any  flower,  save  by  thee,  planted  on  my  lonely  grave  !  Of 
wliat  importance  is  it  where  I  may  wander,  or  what  may 
become  of  ine  ]  But  thou,  to  plunge  headlong  from  the 
summit  of  earthly  blessings  into  the  abyss  in  which 
already  1  lie  prostrate ;  thou,  to  cover  thy  fair  name 
with  the  foulness  of  mine — No,  no,  it  cannot,  it  shall 
not  be !" 

Here  the  young  Greek's  tone  and  manner  at  once 
entirely  changed.  "  Anastasius,"  cried  he,  with  a  rage  so 
concentrated  it  almost  looked  like  calmness :  "  j'ou  may 
s[)ura  mc  from  your  side,  you  may  proceed  without  me. 
But,  mark  the  consequence.  I  return  to  Constantinople, 
I  go  before  the  judge,  and  in  the  face  of  the  whole  public 
I  proclaim  myself  what  I  am — the  murderer  of  Achmet!" 

It  now  v/as  evident  that  emotion  and  fatigue,  acting  on 
a  susceptible  frame,  and  a  mind  always  exalted,  had  pro- 
duced in  Spiridion  that  degree  of  excitement  which  ren- 
dered further  opjjosilion  dangerous.  I  thought  it  best 
for  the  present  to  give  way;  bowed,  and  submitted. 

On  my  fii-st  arrival  at  Rodosto,  I  had  desired  my  horse 
might  be  sold  for  me,  and  a  boat  hired  to  continue  jriy 
journey.  In  their  excessive  zeal  for  my  service  the 
good  people  of  the  house  had  parted  with  my  steed  for 
half  his  value,  and  had  taken  a  boat  at  double  the  usual 
fare  ;  but  it  was  not  a  time  to  mii;J  minute  miscalcula- 
tio'.is.  The  boatmen  were  waiting ;  I  stepped  in,  and 
.Spiridion  followed.  Before  the  sun  had  set,  the  vdnd,  in 
conjunction  with  the  current,  carried  us  out  of  the  Bog- 
haz  into  the  open  sea. 

.lust  as  we  launched  into  the  wide  basin  of  the  Archi- 
pelago, the  sun's  brilliant  disk  was  majestically  dropping- 
behind  the  distant  crags  of  Athos,  whose  gigantic  and 


304  ANASTASIDS. 

insulated  mass,  alone  dimly  beheld  soaring  above  the 
silver  wave,  looked  like  the  huge  spirit  of  the  deep 
emerged  from  its  dark  caverns  to  survey  his  domain. 
Witlfthe  last  departing  rays  of  the  orb  of  day  also  died 
away  the  breeze,  leaving  the  liquid  plain  as  smooth  as  a 
mirror. 

Tile  monotonous  sound  of  the  oar,  falling  upon  the 
waters  in  slow  and  steady  cadence,  now  remained  the  only 
sound  which  broke  the  universal  silence,  and  insensibly  its 
solemn  and  regular  return  disposed  me  to  ruminate  on 
my  portion  of  life  already  wound  off. 

"  How  whimsical  a  thing,"  ihouglit  I,  "  is  a  man's  des- 
tiny !  How  variously  seem  contrasted  its  most  proximate 
vicissitudes,  and  yet  how  intimately  are  linked  its  fur- 
thest incidents :  by  how  many  anterior  minute  and 
hidden  agencies  is  often  irresistibly  produced  the  last  and 
sole  ostensible  cause  of  the  weightiest  events!  How 
entirely  is  the  will  that  seems  spontaneously  to  urge  us 
on,  an'  unavoidable  offspring  of  circumstances  wholly 
indei)cndcnt  of  tliat  will,  since  prior  to  the  very  existence 
of  the  being  wliom  it  sways!  A  fair  form  arises  in  Da- 
mascus ;  and  this  hum,  llitling  through  the  distant  streets, 
and  just  caught  by  my  eye  as  it  vanishes  away — this  form, 
never  before  or  since  beheld — makes  me  throw  down  a 
Frank  on  the  steps  of  the  mosque,  crop  a  friar's  beard  in 
a  barber's  sboi%  seek  lefuge  from  a  Syrian  pasha's  wrath 
in  Coustaiitiiioph^'s  vortex,  incur,  in  protecting  an  old 
friend,  the  insolence  ofastranger,  rid  the  world  of  a  ruffian 
for  threatening  iny  own  life,  and  again  abandon  Stambool 
to  fly — fiod  only  yet  knows  to  what  remote  part  of  this 
ill-conditioned  globe  '. 

"  How  A^arfuily,  above  all,  blood  begets  blood  !  Had  I 
not  many  y(!ars  before  slain  a  Greek  under  the  walls  of 
the  ca[)it"al,  I  should  not  liave  spilt  mamluke  blood  under 
the  battlemcnits  of  (.'airo ;  nor,  by  a  recoil  as  distant  as 
the  first  impulse,  again  have  shed  Turkish  blood  in  Cou- 
stantinople's  suburbs. 

"  Jhit  stay;  in  this  filiation  of  slaughter  was  I  entirely 
passive  1  Had  my  own  temper  no  share  in  the  sanguinary- 
parentage  ?  Did  not  the  uiitowardness  of  my  own  disposi- 
tion give  fertihty  to  otherwise  barren  circumstances  1  If 
at  one  time  1  durst  Iiave  owned  a  friend,  at  another  could 
have  pardoned  an  enemy,  at  a  third  have  held  in  the  con- 
tempt lie  deserved  a  silly  coxcomb, — would  not  tlie  treble 
generation  of  murders  have  been  stilled  in  the  birth,  the 


ANASTASIUS.  305 

rauses  that  broug^ht  thcni  forth  remained  childless,  and  tlie 
black  offspring  never  darkened  the  earth  with  its  shade  ? 

"  True,  indeed !  But  that  if,  that  indispensable  condition 
of  the  more  favourable  alteniativc — what  prevented  its 
growing-  into  a  realitj'  ?  What  mixed  up  with  my  temper 
those  fiery,  those  combustible  ingredients,  always  ready 
to  explode,  to  drive  away  every  suggestion  of  reason,  and 
,to  raise  nij'  hand  ere  my  mind  could  check  the  blow  ? 
was  it  myself] — certainly  not ! 

"  For  if,  on  my  outset  in  life  the  option  had  been  offered 
me,  how  gladly  would  I  have  received,  instead  of  a  bias 
to  evil  and  its  bitter  fruits,  an  inclination  to  good  and  its 
beneficial  consequences  !  It  was  the  examples  I  beheld, 
the  lessons  I  was  taught,  nay,  the  very  elements  which  I 
inherited  from  my  parents,  that  fraught  me  with  my  pre- 
ponderating proneness  to  evil.  It  was  that  part  of  my 
being  for  which  I  have  as  little  reason  to  blame  my  own 
will,  as  others  have  a  right  to  thank  their  own  volition, 
who,  from  a  happier  organization,  derive  tlie  superior 
advantage  of  judgment,  temperance,  and  coolness :  for 
wliile  the  inclination  of  the  brute,  like  a  pillar  placed  upon 
the  solid  earth,  can  only  be  moved  by  a  foi  ce  most  intense 
and  most  palpable,  the  propensities  of  man,  resembling 
the  pendulum  poised  in  air,  often  yield  irresistibly  to  an 
influence  seemingly  the  most  gentle — to  the  slightest 
breath  of  wind  !  and  if  man  fancies  himself  the  free  agent 
he  is  not;  if  man  regards  many  of  his  actions  as  wholly 
spontaneous,  which  are  the  last  inevitable  effects  of  a  long 
series  of  prior  hidden  causes  ;  if  man  overlooks  the  vast 
machinery  founded  on  the  first  progress  of  time,  and 
extending  to  the  farthest  limits  of  space,  by  which,  inde- 
pendent of  his  will,  all  wc  behold,  unto  that  veiy  will,  is 
produced ;  if  man  consents  to  a  gratuitous  responsibility 
from  whi(;hhe  exempts  the  brute,  and  might  exempt  him- 
self, it  is  precisely  because  his  intellectual  organization, 
from  being  so  much  finer  than  that  even  of  the  highest 
brute,  is  often  compelled  to  volition  and  its  consequences 
l)y  agencies  so  much  more  complex,  and  minute,  and 
distant,  and  yet  connected,  that,  from  that  very  circum- 
stance, it  is  often  impossible  to  trace  them  to  any  particu- 
lar anterior  source,  and  to  recognise  them  in  any  par- 
ticular later  effect; — or,  in  other  words,  man  only  thinks 
himself  more  peculiarly  gifted  with  hberty  than  other 
animals,  because  he  is  the  more  et[ual,  and  general,  and 
unresisting  slave  to  a  greater  number  of  more  subtle  aud 


306  ANASTASIUS. 

uncontrollable  surrounding  tyrants,  physical  and  moral. 
Unpossessed  of  the  smallest  component  particle  of  body 
or  of  intellect,  of  will  or  of  knowledge,  of  sensation  or  of 
thought,  which — if  its  Maker  be  really  the  sole  creator, 
mover,  and  upholder  of  all  things  created — is  not  an  ema- 
nation, a  part  of  that  very  Maker ;  incapable  of  conceiving 
the  most  transient  desire,  and  performing  the  most  trifling 
action,  which — if  there  be  a  single  first  cause  of  all  sec- 
ondary causes  or  effects  whatsoever — does  not  proceed 
from  the  express  will  of  that  single  first  cause ;  unable  to 
name  any  species  of  temptation  whatsoever,  which — if  all 
tilings  originate  in  one  single  source — flows  not  in  reality 
from  that  single  fiist  source,  as  much  as  the  strength  to 
resist  or  the  weakness   that   yields;  vainglorious  man, 
however  curiously  the   impressions  he   receives  from 
external  objects  may,  in  that  strange  piece  of  mechanism 
his  brain,  successively  assume  the  various  forms  of  sen- 
sation, thought,  and  will,  is  not  the  less,  from  his  first  to 
his  last  breath,  as  entirely  a  mere  passive  instrument  in 
the  hands  of  Providence  as  the  insentient  plant,  or  tlie 
unorganized  mineral ;  and,  so  far  from  deserving  to  have 
his  bickerings  with  his  brother  mites  on  this  grain  of  sand 
magnified  into  an  insurrection  of  giants  against  heaven, 
seems  to  me  as  fully  entitled  to  credit  for  obedience  to 
the  Almighty  in  doing  what  is  blamed,  as  in  eflecting 
what  is  praised ;  would  be  guilty  of  as  flagrant  an  act  of 
rebellion  in  declining  the  task  of  evil  as  that  of  good  set 
down  for  him,  and  leaves  Heaven  itself  as  exclusivelj'- 
accountable  for  the  mischiefs  of  the  moral  world  as  for 
those  of  the  mere  physical  creation — for  the  destruction 
effected  by  conquerors  and  statesmen,  as  for  the  havoc 
produced  by  earthquakes,  floods,  hurricanes,  famine,  and 
pestilence.     To  eat  and  to  be  eaten  by  each  other  is  the 
lot  which  Providence  itself  has  assigned  to  all  the  sentient 
inhabitants  of  this  unhappy  globe!"* 

At  tills  period  of  my  reasoning,  a  new  light  burst  upon 
me.  All  at  once  the  great  Author  of  all,  so  far  from 
appearing,  in  his  capacity  of  the  sole  primary  cause  of  evil, 
as  less  bountiful  to  man,  than  if  he  had  only  been  the 
artificer  of  good,  seemed  to  acquire  in  my  eyes,  on  that 
very  account,  a  double  claim  to  our  gratitude.  It  struck 
me  that,  if  the  Onuiipotent  ordainer  of  the  universe,  who 

*  Poor,  pitiable  wretch  !  Thy  life  is  the  apt  comment  on  thy  principles  ;  and 
ftlliy  shows  to  what  they  inevitably  lead.— Editor. 


ANASTASIUS.  307 

Could  Iiave  willed  his  work  equally  perfect  throughout, 
had  yet  left  for  a  time  error  and  its  bitter  fruits  mixed 
with  knowledge  and  with  bliss,  this  ordination  might  in 
reality  lead  to  ultimate  joys  more  intense  than  if  all  had 
been  unmixed  happiness  from  the  very  beginning.  "  Who, 
indeed,"  thought  I,  "dared,  on  mature  consideration,  to 
doubt,  without  calling  in  question  both  Almighty  wisdom 
and  goodness,  that  if,  on  this  transient  stage  of  mere  trial 
and  probation,  God  mingled  weakness  with  strength,  and 
darkness  with  light,  so  far  from  its  being  for  the  cruel 
purpose  of  throwing  temptations  into  man's  way,  in  order 
that  he  might  punish  him  for  yielding  to  their  voice,  and 
find  reasons  for  only  saving  half  mankind,  where  the 
whole  might  have  been  blessed,  it  was,  in  reality,  only 
with  the  benevolent  design  of  teaching  all  his  creatures, 
through  dint  of  a  few  fleeting  injuries  and  sufterings,  the 
eternal  difference  between  evil  and  good,  ignorance  and 
knowledge,  imperfection  and  endless  unchanging  perfec- 
tion ;  and  thereby  enabling  all,  in  their  higlier  future  state, 
to  enjoy  more  completely,  through  the  means  of  unceasing 
comparison,  its  good  without  evil,  and  its  bliss  without 
alloy." 

On  further  reflection,  however,  I  could  not  help  finding, 
even  in  this  sagacious  scheme — liberal  as  it  was — a 
something  at  which,  I  thought,  a  man  in  my  predicament 
might  still  be  dissatisfied.  It  still  seemed  to  me  that 
those  ill-fated  wretches  whose  misfortune  it  was  to  have 
been  selected,  even  before  their  very  birth,  and  wholly 
without  their  consent  or  foreknowledge,  for  the  purpose 
of  serving,  through  the  mischiefs  they  were  doomed  to 
perform,  and  the  miseries  they  were  destined  to  suffer, 
as  examples  to  the  rest  of  mankind,  might  have  reason 
to  complain  of  partiality  in  the  decrees  of  Providence, 
at  least  during  its  present  provisional  dispensations ; — 
unless  indeed,  as  seemed  fair,  those  unfortunate  evil- 
doers in  this  world  were  to  be  made  amends  for  their 
sublunary  hardships  by  an  additional  share  of  rewards 
and  of  glory  in  the  next :  but  as  that  was  still  a  doubtful 
point,  and  as,  consequently,  while  I  felt  quite  sure  of 
being  numbered  here  below  among  those  pitinble  victims 
forced  to  perform  all  manner  of  mischief  for  the  general 
benefit,  I  possessed  not  yet  the  smallest  certainty  of  an 
adequate  compensation  hereafter,  I  began  by  degrees  to 
repine  at  my  lot,  to  murmur  at  the  mortifying  part  I  was 
made  to  perform,  and  to  lose  what  little  patience  my 


308  ANASTASTOS. 

irksome  task  had  thus  far  left'me.  In  sliort,  I  detemiiued 
no  hjii^rer  to  forfeit  tlie  certain  for  the  uncertain;  but 
imniediately  to  throw  off  my  compulsory  character,  and 
— wliatever  punishment  1  might  incur  lor  my  disobe- 
dience— forthwith  to  become  a  very  pattern  of  virtue,  in 
spite  of  heaven  itself! 

JJut,  alas !  I  found  there  is  no  contending  with  the 
powers  above  ;  I  soon  discovered  that  the  scheme  which 
T  was  meditating  is  more  easily  planned  tlum  executed. 
.Spiridion,  whom  till  that  moment  1  had  looked  upon  as 
my  good  demon — as  the  angel  appointed  to  guard  me 
from  evil — was  in  reality  the  spirit  destined  to  scare  me 
from  good.  Perceiving  the  strong  labour  in  my  mind, 
he  lost  his  usual  caution,  and,  in  the  mistaken  idea  of 
availing  himself  of  the  propitious  moment,  commenced 
so  dark  a  picture  of  my  vices,  ere  my  virtuous  resolves 
were  well-matured,  that  my  self-love — that  infernal  and 
ever-watchful  sprite— suddenly  felt  alarmed,  flapped  its 
raven  wings,  and  took  the  field.  At  once  the  current  of 
the  salutary  reflections,  spontaneously  sprung  up  in  my 
breast,  became  totally  stopped  by  the  fear  lest  my  com- 
Iiaiiion  might  think  me  subdued  by  a  sense  of  my  forlorn 
situation.  °  Angrily  interrupting  his  lecture,  "I  agreed," 
cjied  I,  "  to  the  society  of  a  friend,  not  to  the  admonitions 
of  a  preceptor.  It  is  unfair  to  get  me  into  a  small  boat 
out  at  sea,  in  order  to  pursue  me  with  lectures  frona 
which  I  camiot  escape  !" 

This  sally,  though  it  made  Spiridion  smile,  still  left 
me  ruffled;  and  a  little  after,  when  my  friend,  after 
spreading  out  our  little  provision,  looked  for  a  knife,  I 
oflered  him  my  iiaiidjar,  still  crimsoned  with  Achmet's 
blood.  He  said  nothing,  and  only  turned  away  his  head. 
Jhit  as  he  leaned  over  the  sides  of  the  boat,  I  saw  big 
tears  drop  into  the  waves.  Night,  meanwhile,  had  stolen 
on,  and  our  little  silent  skiff,  filled  with  mourning,  and 
encompassed  by  darkness,  looked  like  the  barge  which 
carries  to  the  regions  of  wailing  the  souls  of  the  damned. 
.  The  hours  of  darkness  passed  without  further  discourse ; 
but  early  in  the  morning,  Spiridion,  thinking  me  more 
calm,  ventured  on  what  lie  called  another  appeal  to  my 
reason.  The  very  word  deprived  me  of  what  little  I  had 
left.  "Appeal  to  my  affections,"  exclaimed  I:  "bid  me 
do  one  thing  or  leave  another  for  the  love  I  bear  you,  but 
talk  not  to  me  of  reason.  1  hold  the  cursed  gift  in 
abhorrence.     It  is  the  source  of   all  our  errors,  the 


ANASTASIU8.  309 

mother  of  all  our  mischiefs.  The  brute,  uho  has  only 
instim't  to  guide  liim,  is  sure  to  act  riglit :  but  human 
beings,  with  tlieir  miscral)le  reason,  are  always  acting 
wrong,  and  acting  wrong  tlnoughthe  persuasions  of  that 
reason  itself.  For,  if  they  are  liable  to  evil  pasrsions  of 
which  brutes  have  no  conception ;  if  they  experience  ava- 
rice, and  ambition,  and  pride — those  feelings  most  fertile 
in  crimes  and  in  havoc  among  the  human  species — to  what 
do  they  owe  this  uul'ortunale  distinction,  but  to  the  impulse 
of  a  reasoning  faculty  which  happens  to  mistake  its  way  ? 
And  if  they  have  been  able  to  accomphsh  mischief  beyond 
Avhat  brutes  could  have  imagined ;  if  tliey  have  suc- 
ceeded, for  instance,  to  double  on  this  globe,  through 
such  inventions  as  jainting,  cookery,  and  gunpowder,  the 
three  evils  of  infidelity,  disease,  and  premature  dis- 
solution, wliat  again  have  they  to  thank  for  the  advantage 
but  their  inestimable  reason  ]  It  is,  no  doubt,  in  mercy  to 
the  human  specie.s,  that  of  all  its  baneful  faculties,  that 
of  reason,  on  wiiich  it  prides  itself  most,  sliould  have  been 
made  to  develop  the  last,  and  to  slumber  the  ottenest." 

"1  suppose,  then,"  said  Spiridiou,  "it  is  only  for  fear 
of  aj)pearing  too  reasonalile,  that  you,  who  do  not  think 
yourself  accountable  to  Heaven,  and,  indeed,  are  not  over- 
nice  how  you  act  by  your  neighliour,  yet  make  your 
neighbour  i)ay  so  dearly  for  any  injury  he  may  attempt 
to  do  you  ]" 

"  Listen,"  replied  I:  "As  to  tlie  duties  between  man 
and  man  ;  if  my  life  or  happiness  depend  upon  the  bread, 
or  mone\',  or  jewel,  which  hiippen  without  my  consent 
to  be  in  my  ncighboiu'"s  hands,  assuredly  1  do  not  see 
why  1  should  so  far  pi'efer  his  interests  to  my  own  as  to 
leave  them  there,  if  I  can  do  better  for  myself.  Upon 
the  same  principle,  1  defend  against  my  neiglibotu's  wliat 
I  already  have  got ;  and  as  1  ward  otV  impending 
injuries,  so  1  retaliate  injuries  received,  to  prevent  a 
repetition;  but  in  all  this  I  feel  no  ill-luunour  towards 
my  neiglibour,  allow  him  a  complete  reciprocity  of  riglits 
against  myself,  and  though  I  should  even  uccasionally 
find  it  necessary  to  kill,  in  order  to  settle  who.^e  right 
shall  prevail,  I  presume  not  to  blame,  and  think  myself 
not  entitled  to  punish." 

"Indeed  !"  cried  Spiridiou, archly  ;  "  and  when  woidd 
you,  prav,  first  think  cliastisement  lawful  1" 

"  As  soon,"  answered  I,  "  as  by  an  express,  or  even 
tacit,  but  acknowledged  agreement  between  certain  indi- 


310  ANASTASIUS. 

viduals,  each  had  ceded  to  the  rest  his  natural  indefinite 
right  over  their  persons  and  properties,  in  return  for 
other  definite  concessions,  at  once  more  restricted  and 
more  advantageous;  and  had  voluntarily  submitted  to 
certain  penalties  on  infringing  this  agreement." 

"  Well  said  !"  exclaimed  my  friend  ;  "  you  have  de- 
scribed the  social  compact — the  source  of  every  law,  the 
cement  of  every  state ;  and,  since  you  not  only  have 
acknowledged  its  sacredness,  but  subscribed  to  its  terms, 
by  claiming  its  support  both  as  subject  and  as  ruler,  what 
more  have  you  to  do,  but  henceforth  to  abide,  while  tliis 
empire  subsists,  by  all  its  stipulations  ?" 

Here  I  rubbed  my  eyes.  "  Am  I  alive,"  cried  I,  "  and 
awake ;  and  do  I  hear  a  Greek,  and  under  the  yoke  of 
the  Turks,  talk  of  a  social  compact — of  an  agreement 
intended  for  mutual  benefit,  support,  and  protection — as 
of  a  thing  actually  subsisting — as  of  a  thing  that  should 
regulate  his  conduct  to  his  masters  1  Ah !  had  I  only 
discovered  the  faintest  trace  of  any  such  agreement 
between  Christianity  and  Islamism,  and  had  I  found  in 
those  for  whose  security  it  was  framed  the  least  dispo- 
sition to  enforce  its  terms  and  to  resist  its  infraction, 
who  would  have  been  more  proud  than  myself  of  re- 
maining a  Greek,  of  standing  by  my  oppressed  country- 
men, and  of  maintaining  the  glorious  struggle  to  the  last 
drop  of  my  blood  !  But  it  was  because  in  these  realms 
the  contract,  if  ever  it  existed,  had  been  perverted — or 
rather,  had  been  torn,  rent  asunder,  cast  away !  because 
my  countrymen — as  if  fascinated  by  the  despot's  crooked 
cipher — had  themselves  preferred  implicit  submission  to 
the  restoration  of  an  obliterated  text ;  and  because,  not 
content  with  themselves  going  quietly  to  slaughter,  when 
I  claimed  their  defence,  they  only  bade  me  do  like- 
wise, that,  no  longer  either  benefited  or  bound  by  the 
broken  engagement,  I  left  the  community  from  which 
I  in  vain  expected  support,  for  that  from  which  I  hoped 
for  effectual  protection — until,  equally  disgusted  with  the 
brutal  stupidity  of  the  rulers  as  with  the  servile  apathy 
of  the  ruled,  and  seeing  in  every  system,  whether  of 
conquered  or  of  conquerors,  equal-  disorganization  and 
ruin,  I  at  last  resolved  to  resume  my  rights  of  nature, 
and  the  primeval  state  of  warfare  against  all  worth 
attacking !" 

Here  Spiridion  looked,  or  pretended  to  look,  as  if  he 
thought  he  might  be  among  those  entitled  to  this  dis- 


ANASTASIUS.  311 

tinction,  and  would  now  gladly  have  rid  me  of  his  com- 
pany if  he  could.  That  being  impossible,  he  vouchsafed 
to  answer  me.  "  Men,"  he  cried,  "  so  violently  enam- 
oured of  their  natural  liberty,  or  rather  license,  should  at 
once  remove  themselves  from  the  pale  of  civil  society ; 
nor  disturb  those  who  are  satisfied  with  what  they  disap- 
prove." 

"  Spiridion,"  I  replied,  "  that  is  easily  said,  but  is  it  as 
easily  done  ?  Far  as  that  society  has  spread  its  insidious 
snares,  has  it  so  much  as  left  a  single  small  spot  on  earth 
M'here  those  yet  unborn  who  should  dislike  its  partial 
regulations  may  find  room  to  retire  to  the  enjoyment 
of  their  birthright  1  Or  if  there  be  any  sucli  asylum 
remaining  in  the  wilds  of  Tartary  or  the  wastes  of 
America,  has  not  society,  at  any  rate,  so  monopolized  all 
the  means  of  disentangling  one's  self  from  its  mazes,  as 
to  render  the  gaining  these  bUssful  abodes  next  to 
impossible  1  Must  we  not  possess  land-caravans,  or  ves- 
sels, licenses  and  passports,  even  to  fly  to  the  loneliness 
of  the  desert,  together  with  a  strength  of  body  and  of 
mind  of  which  the  social  institutions  take  care  to  deprive 
us  ere  we  suspect  their  dangerous  power?  They  cut  our 
claws,  they  clip  our  wiugs,  and  then  they  cry  out,  with  a 
smile  of  derision,  '  Poor  pinioned  eagle,  fly  if  thou  list !' 
The  man  who  is  not  wealthy  can  only  escape  from 
society  through  the  gates  of  death.  Nor  does  he  every 
where,  I  am  told,  dare  to  approach  even  these  boldly  and 
lionestly.  He  must  in  some  countries  smuggle  himself 
out  of  the  world  by  stealth,  and  embark  for  his  journey 
under  false  colours,  lest  his  body  be  made  accountable 
for  the  roving  disposition  of  his  soul  I" 

In  this  sort  of  conversation  did  we  while  away  our 
time  in  the  boat.  I  knew  that  some  of  my  arguments 
could  not  bear  minute  scrutiny  ;  but  I  felt  less  solicitous 
to  seek  the  sliortest  road  to  truth,  as  it  must  abridge  our 
discussions,  and  leave  us  to  all  the  irksomeness  of  a  pas- 
sage, which  grew  more  tedious  in  proportion  as  our  sen- 
timents became  less  discordant. 


312  ANASTASlUSr 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

After  a  coasting  voyage  of  three  or  four  days,  some 
ominous  appearances  in  the  sky  made  us  veer  about, 
and  enter  that  most  beautiful  of  liarbours  Port  Calone, 
on  the  island  of  Mytilene,  where  the  olive-tree,  growing 
almost  out  of  the  sea,  again  dips  its  pendant  boughs  in 
the  briny  tide  which  laves  its  knotty  roots.  "  Had  it  not 
been  written,"  exclaimed  I,  as  we  stepped  ashore,  "  that 
this  brain  of  mine  should  be  stewing  under  a  huge  turban, 
instead  of  freely  venting  its  s\iperfluous  heat  from  under 
a  slight  scull-c;ip,  what  a  fine  opportunity  there  would 
now  be — midway  as  we  are  between  the  three  hundred 
rich  friars  of  Nea-Moni,*  and  the  tliree  thousand  poor 
friars  of  Agios-Oro.s, — to  turn  thrifty  myself,  and  ex- 
change the  tliougluless  prodigality  of  tlie  sinner,  who 
stakes  eternal  happiness  against  a  few  years  of  jollity, 
for  the  calculating  conduct  of  the  saint,  Avho  inflicts  upon 
himself  just  enough  of  privation  and  torture  in  this  lilc, 
to  purchase  a  perpetuity  of  bliss  hereafter; — or,  again, 
had  it  been  written  that  you  siioidd  wear  the  turban  as 
well  as  myself,  how  profitably  we  might  spend  our  lime 
in  this  boat,  slasliing  our  arms  and  legs  in  order  to  mix 
our  blood,  and  ever  after  to  be  bound  to  each  other  both 
in  body  and  soul,  and  sure  of  a  companion  in  hell  as  in 
heaven.  But  I  wrap  my  brains  in  muslin,  and  yon  in 
slieep-skin ;  and  so  our  souls  must — whether  they 
choose  or  not — after  they  quit  this  frame,  go  miles 
asunder;  and  while  they  renuun  in  these  paltiy  bodies 
"we  have  nothing  to  do — since  we  (v.uniot  pass  our  lives 
rowing  througli  tlie  Archipelngo — but  to  consider  how 
we  may  dispose  of  our  persons  to  tiie  best  advantage,  or 
at  least  where  we  may  convey  them  with  the  least  in- 
convenience." 

"  All  this,"  s.'iid  Spiridion,  "I  suppose, you  are  already 
fully  determined  upon,  m  your  own  mind." 

"  I  am,"  was  my  reply  ;  "but  still  I  want  your  advice. 
You  must  know  that  in  my  humble  opinion  tliis  eternal 

*  Xca-Moni — rich  monastery  in  ttie  islaiiil  of  C'liia 


ANASTASIUS.  813 

capitan-pasha,  whom  I  am  for  ever  talking  of  and  waiting 
for,  may  be  longer  going  to  his  new  harvest-field,  than 
my  poor  old  father  to  his  last  home ;  and  therefore,  as 
we  are  approaching  my  native  island,  and  the  attraction 
begins  to  operate,  I  should  like,  wind  and  weather 
serving,  with  so  many  sins  on  my  head,  and  so  many, 
enemies  at  my  heels,  to  crave  my  sire's  last  forgive- 
ness and  blessing.  It  would  lighten  my  burthen,  and 
strengthen  my  soul,  which  sickens  and  wants  such  a 
cordial." 

My  motives  for  visiting  the^^or  di  levante*  silenced  all 
Spiridion's  objections  to  going  where  he  himself  still  had 
so  many  connexions.  We  agreed  to  cross  the  moun- 
tains which  separated  us  from  the  town  of  Mytilene,  and 
there  to  hire  a  swifter  vessel  for  the  remainder  of  our 
journey.  Like  Orestes,  I  was  to  wander  about  from 
place  to  plajce,  trying  to  expiate  my  guilt,  while  Spi- 
ridion — my.  Pylades — had  nothing  to  do  but  to  watch 
me,  in  case  J.^vent  mad. 

Arrived  oftf|he  quay  of  Mytilene's  gay  city,  the  first 
figure  that  struck  me  was  a  person,  like  myself,  going  to 
embark,  of  whom  I  thought  I  had  some  recollection.  On 
closer  examination  1  found  him  to  be  a  gentleman  from 
my  native  town;  upon  which  I  accosted  him,  and  in- 
quired the  news  of  Chio.  Eight  or  nine  years  had 
altered  my  features  considerably  more  than  his,  of  which 
the  already  long-fixed  wrinkles  had  only  acquired  a  little 
more  depth  and  sharpness.  He  therefore  answered  me 
as  a  stranger.  His  account  was  not  the  less  minute  ; 
but  throughout  the  whole  narrative  not  a  syllable  was 
mentioned  of  the  only  thing  I  cared  about,  namely,  my 
own  family,  which  somehow  I  had  expected  would  have 
figured  foremost.  At  last,  losing  all  patience,  "  And 
Dimitri  Sotiri,"  said  I, — "  what  may  he  be  doing  at  this 
time  ]" 

"  You  come  from  distant  parts,  sir,"  answered  the  gen- 
tleman, smiling  agreeably;  "  otherwise  you  would  know 
that  Signor  Sotiri  has  been  dead  this  fortnight.  I 
myself  attended  the  funeral,  and  a  noble  one  it  was ; — 
more  sweelr'^oats  consumed  than  at  half-a-dozen  wed- 
dings I — But  you  turn  pale,  sir !  Is  any  thing  the  matter 
with  you  V 


*  Fior  di  Levante— emphatic  epithec  of  praise  given  by  tlie  Greek  islanders 
to  Cbio. 

Vol.  I.— 0 


314  ANASTASIUS. 

"  Nothing,  nothing,"  cried  I,  trying  to  contain  myself, 
"but  a  little  giddiness  to  which  I  am  subject;" — and 
laying  hold  of  a  post  for  my  support, — "  who,"  resumed 
I,  "  carried  the  body  V 

"  His  two  sons,  of  course." 

"  There  was  a  third !" 

"  Ay,  so  there  was ; — and,  though  absent  in  person, 
present  enough  in  name.  Sotiri  talked  of  no  one  else 
during  his  illness !" 

"  What  was  it  he  said  ?" 

"  Why,  faith !  that  is  what  nobody  can  tell.  Constan- 
tino and  his  brother  maintained  it  was  all  raving." 

"  Has  that  third  brother  been  heard  of  ]" 

"  Troth,  people  talk  differently.  Some  say  he  is  a 
great  man — a  bey  of  Egypt ;  others,  a  positive  beggar  at 
Constantinople.  An  acquaintance  of  mine,  a  man  who 
seldom  speaks  any  thing  but  the  truth,  swears  he  met 
him  the  other  day  in  one  of  the  streets  of  Galata,  all  in 
rags,  and  absolutely  begging  charity.  My  friend  was 
going  to  give  it  in  the  shape  of  good  advice,  but  the 
spark  said  that  was  not  what  he  wanted,  and  turned 
away.  As  to  his  brothers,  they  report  all  that  is  bad  of 
him.  Their  father  never  could  silence  their  tongues ; 
and  though  it  is  likely  enough  that  all  they  say  is  true, 
yet  everybody  cries  shame  to  hear  people  talk  in  that 
way  of  their  own  blood.  It  is  what  should  be  left  to 
strangers.  With  the  mischief  they  have  made,  it  "may 
be  as  much  as  his  life  is  worth  for  Signor  Anastasius,  or 
Selim,  as  they  call  him,  to  show  his  face  among  us.  The 
Turks'  fingers  itch  to  thiow  the  first  stone  at  him  as 
much  as  those  of  the  Christians,  although  they  say  he  is 
a  hadjce,  and  lias  been  to  Mekkah.  But  none  need  fear 
his  trying  to  come  to  Chio.  I'll  lay  my  life  on  it  he  is 
dead  long  ago !" 

"  No,"  exclaimed  I, — as  if  suddenly  awaking  from  a 
deep  trance,  and  grasping  the  affrighted  talker  by  the 
wrist, — "  he  is  not !  and  since  you  are  going  to  Chio,  and 
may  be  glad  to  carry  a  piece  of  news,  tell  them  Anas- 
tasius still  lives;  tell  them  they  soon  shall  see  him  ;  and 
tell  them  he  comes  to  resent  his  wrongs,  and  to  claim 
his  rightful  property!" 

iSpiridion,  alarmed  at  this  sally,  interrupted  the  con- 
versation. Taking  the  Chiote  by  the  left  hand,  while  I 
still  held  him  tight  by  the  other,  he  pointed  to  his  boat- 
men, who  were  making  signs  of  impatience  at  his  delay. 


anastasivs.  315 

Nothing  he  wished  for  so  much  himself  as  to  be  gone. 
Disentanghnii  his  hands  hastily  from  our  grasp,  he  gave 
us  an  awkward  half-strangled  salutation,  and  sped  to  his 
barge. 

As  soon  as  he  was  out  of  hearing,  "Is  this,"  said 
Spiridion,  shaking  his  head,  "  the  way  in  which  a  son 
should  mourn  for  his  father  V 

I  could  only  stammer  out, — "  My  brothers,  my 
brothers!"  Spiridion  let  the  first  emotions  pass;  and 
when  he  saw  me  more  composed,  spoke  as  follows  : — 

"  I  see,  Anastasius,  you  still  meditate  some  outrage ; 
of  what  nature  I  know  not,  nor  wish  to  hear.  But 
of  this  I  think  it  right  to  apprize  you  :  if,  impressed  with 
a  sense  of  all  the  forbearance  you  stand  in  need  of  your- 
self, you  show  equal  lenity  to  your  kindred ;  if,  forget- 
ting every  injury,  you  only  appear  among  them  to  speak 
words  of  peace ;  if,  above  all,  you  renounce  every  ad- 
vantage bestowed  by  the  partial  laws  of  Islamism, — you 
have  my  friendship  for  ever:  I  bind  my  fate  to  yours 
until  the  hour  of  death.  But  if,  on  the  contrary,  you 
only  return  to  your  country  to  insult  the  ashes  of  your 
father,  to  devour  the  little  substance  of  your  brothers, 
and  to  justify  the  disgrace  stamped  in  your  birthplace 
on  your  name,  I  stay  here,  I  leave  you  to  run  your  race 
of  shame  alone,  and  I  abandon  for  ever  all  solicitude 
about  your  welfare  1" 

"  Spiridion,"  answered  I,  "  you  know  that  covetous- 
ness  is  not  the  vice  of  ray  heart.  But  do  you  blame  just 
resentment  1  do  you  wish  calumny  to  remain  unpunished  V 

"And  are  you  then  so  irreproachable,"  asked  the  son 
of  Mavrocordato,  "  as  to  leave  so  much  room  for  injus- 
tice in  the  accounts  concerning  you,  and  to  render  eveiy 
unfavourable  representation  of  your  proceedings  an  un- 
bearable calumny]  But,  be  that  as  it  may,  promise  to 
do  what  I  ask,  or  be  content  to  see  me  withdraw  on  the 
spot  from  the  pain  of  witnessing  your  future  errors,  and 
the  disgrace  of  sharins  in  your  yet  unborn  crimes." 

"  I  will  not,"  replied  1,  "  bind  myself  by  a  promise.  I 
should  appear  to  have  taken  the  engagement,  unmindful 
of  hs  weight,  and  only  to  fulfil  reluctantly  an  irksome 
task  because  I  had  unguardedly  pledged  my  word  to  per- 
form it.  I  wish  at  least  to  acquire  all  the  merit  of  acting 
right,  by  retainins  the  power  of  acting  wrong.  Only  go 
with  me  as  far  as^  Chio.  When  there,  if  I  should  behave 
ill,  it  will  then  still  be  not  too  late  to  le-ave  me." 
08 


316  ANASTASIUS. 

The  look  and  manner  with  which  I  declined  my 
friend's  request  inspired  him  with  confidence.  "  Then 
once  more  go  we  on !"  cried  he  ;  "  but  beware  I" 

I  now  strewed  ashes  on  my  turban,  took  the  gloss 
off  my  glittering  vest,  and  put  on  the  signs  of  mourning. 
After  tliis,  we  engaged  another  boat,  and  in  a  short  time 
reached  our  destination. 

There  was  no  necessity  in  Chio  to  announce  my 
arrival.  On  my  very  first  lauding  I  found  every  minor 
topic  eclipsed  bj;-  the  more  important  subject  of  my 
speedy  coming.  Already  had  my  brothers  found  means 
to  stir  up  the  wliole  town  against  me.  Already  was 
every  inhabitant  up  in  arms  to  prevent  the  renegade  from 
reducing  liis  nearest  kindred  to  beggary.  So  loud  was 
the  cry  of  defiance,  that  on  stepping  ashore  I  found  it 
expedient  to  go  straight  to  the  mekkiem^.  Safe  in  the 
hall  of  justice,  I  had  my  brothers  summoned. 

Spiridion  did  not  know  what  to  think  of  my  proceeding. 
Questioned  by  his  anxious  looks,  I  made  him  signs  to  be 
silent:  but  though  he  unclosed  not  his  lips,  it  was  easy  to 
see  his  heart  trembled  between  hope  and  fear. 

I'^or  my  part,  without  giving  the  least  hint  of  my  inten- 
tions, without  noticing  the  crowd  collected  to  survey  my 
person  and  to  watch  my  behaviour,  without  satisfying  the 
curiosity  or  correcting  the  errors  of  the  bystanders,  who 
aloud,  at  my  elbow,  imparted  to  each  other  their  sur- 
mises, I  stood  haughty,  unmoved,  and  silent,  waiting  the 
appearamu!  of  my  wortliy  pair  of  brothers. 

At  last  they  made  their  entrance  ;  and  never  certainly 
did  men  take  less  trouble  to  conceal  the  ill-humour  they 
felt  at  seeing  an  unexpected  relation.  Without  address- 
ing me  oven  in  the  words  of  anger,  they  went  and  took 
their  station  on  one  side  of  tlie  liall,  while  I  stood  on  the 
opposite  side.  There — pale,  sullen,  dejected,  and  now 
and  then  casting  upon  me  a  lowering  look  of  mingled 
rage  and  despair — they  awaited,  without  uttering  a  word, 
the  legal  injunction  they  expected,  to  surrender  the  pater- 
nal estate. 

I  own  that  for  some  time  I  enjoyed  their  dismay.  It 
was  the  oiilj^  phsasure  tiiey  could  afford  me.  Having 
indulged  in  it  till  the  zest  evaporated,  I  at  last  broke  the 
long-protracted  silence.  "  My  brothers,"  said  I,  "you 
are  aware  of  my  claims  upon  you;  and  you  likewise  are 
conscious  of  your  conduct  to  me.  In  your  own  minds, 
therefore,  you  dare  not  cherish  the  smallest  particle  of 


ANASTASIUS.  317 

hope,  that  I  should  surrender  in  your  favour  any  portion 
of  my  rig-ht.  Yet  what  you  dare  not  expect,  I  of  my  own 
accord  perform.  I  here  publicly  relinquish  my  privilege. 
Take  each  your  third  of  the  paternal  prof)erty  ;  and  only 
leave  me  that  portion  which  would  have  belonj^ed  to  nje 
as  a  Christian,  and  which  I  can  but  ill  spare.  That  done, 
mourn  for  your  sins,  and  repent  of  your  injustice." 

To  describe  tlie  effect  these  words  produced  on  the 
audience  would  be  impossible.  Those  who  before  con- 
sidered me  as  a  devil  incarnate,  now,  of  course,  regarded 
me  as  an  angel  from  lu.'aven.  The  liall  resounded  with 
loud  applause.  Nothing  was  heard  but  praises  of  my 
generosity ;  and  my  brothers  themselves,  stunned  by  so 
unexpected  a  turn  in  their  situation,  were  reluctantly 
forced  to  join  in  the  general  cry.  They  thanked  rue,  but 
in  such  a  way  as  made  it  doubtful  whether  they  more 
rejoiced  at  recovering  thcirproperty,  or  regretted  retract- 
ing their  abuse.  I  took  no  notice  of  their  coolness,  but 
went  straight  to  our  house.  ]\Iy  progress  looked  like  a 
triumphal  march:  all  that  had  witnessed  my  behaviour  at 
tlie  inekkieme,  and  all  whom  we  met  on  the  way  joined 
the  procession.  Having  reached  the  steps  of  the  man- 
sion, I  turned  roimd  and  saluted  the  company.  In  its 
turn  the  assembly  honoured  me  with  fresh  cheers,  inter- 
mixed with  a  few  observations  on  my  brothers,  which  at 
lc;ist  showed  tlrey  were  not  overlooked.  I  expressed  my 
unmixed  gratitude,  and  retired  to  a  private  chamber, 
where  I  was  glad  to  sit  down  and  rest  myself. 

While  every  one  else  had  been  loud  in  praise  of  my 
conduct,  the  son  of  Mavrocordato  alone  had  not  uttered 
a  syllable.  As  soon  as  we  were  by  ourselves,  he  tlirew 
his  arms  round  my  neck,  and  attempted  to  speak :  but  in 
vain!  His  emotion  was  too  great  for  utterance.  He 
could  only  gaze  on  me  with  ovcrtlowing  eyes.  To  see 
his  Anastasius,  who  thus  far  liad  cost  him  nothing  but 
anguish,  had  aflbrded  him  no  employment  but  to  conceal 
his  errors,  all  at  once  become  the  tlieme  of  imiversal  ad- 
miration; to  find  his  friendship  thus  justified,  his  per- 
severance thus  rewarded — what  a  moment  for  his  feel- 
ings !  Even  while  speechless  for  want  of  breath,  his  ex- 
ulting look  seemed  to  say,  "  Well,  my  friend,  are  you  now 
sorry  that  you  followed  my  advice?" 

If,  however,  Spiridion's  first  thoughts  were  for  his 
friend,  his  second  were  for  his  father.  Till  that  moment, 
a  more  urgent  subject  of  anxiety  had  occupied  his  mind. 


3  IS  ANASTASIUS. 

riiis  being  set  at  rest,  he  took  up  the  other.  "Ah,  my 
tender  parent,"  exclaimed  he,  "  why  cannot  you  witness 
my  success,  or  rather  your  own!  For  I  act  in  your 
name;  I  but  accomplish  your  vows.  Alas!  while  I 
triumph,  you  still  remain  in  anguish.  Yet  shall  you  not 
suffer  longer  than  a  grateful  son  can  help." 

Hereupon,  he  proposed  to  go  out  and  inquire  for  the 
means  of  sending  a  letter.  Already  he  had  despatched  a 
few  lines  from  Rodosto  to  make  his  father  easy  respect- 
ing his  disappearance.  On  my  agreeing  to  the  thing,  we 
went  fortli.  As  we  crossed  the  esplanade  of  the  castle,  I 
perceived  a  dark  cloud  gather  on  my  friend's  brow.  His 
eyes  seemed  to  dart  out  of  his  head,  and  to  remain  riveted 
on  the  quay.  I  turned  mine  the  same  way,  but  saw 
nothing  to  account  for  Spiridion's  perturbation.  At  last, 
changing  colour,  and  pressing  my  arm,  "  We  are  traced," 
he  cried ;  "  see  Marco  coming  towards  us  !"  This  person 
was  his  father's  steward — an  old  and  confidential  servant. 
"  Let  us  go,"  rejoined  he,  "  and  meet  him.  I  have  done 
nothing  of  which  1  need  be  ashamed." 

Marco  saw  his  young  master  advancing.  He  hobbled 
on  to  meet  him,  and  with  a  respectful  salutation,  pre- 
sented a  letter  which  he  took  out  of  his  bosom. 

Spiridion,  with  a  trembling  hand,  broke  the  seal  and 
read :  then  paused,  ruminated,  and  read  all  over  again. 
At  last,  trying  to  speak  with  more  composure  than  he 
felt,  "  Your  instructions,  Marco,"  said  he,  "  were  to  trace 
me,  to  follow  me,  and  to  hand  me  this  letter.  Your 
commission  is  performed.  I  have  in  great  measure  an- 
swered my  father  by  anticipation  from  Rodosto:  what 
remains  I  shall  go  and  com[)lete.  I  now  am  able  to  con- 
vey the  welcome  information,  that  the  adopted  brother 
wliom  lie  committed  to  my  care  is  become  worthy  of  his 
kindness,  and,  like  me,  only  wants  his  prayers  and  his 
blessings." 

"  Sir,"  answered  Marco,  in  a  firm  but  respectful  tone, 
"  my  instructions  went  farther  than  you  state.  I  am 
bearer  of  letters  to  the  despots,*  and  the  proestis  of  our 
(liflTerent  islands.  They  impoit  that  I  am  to  see  you  safe 
home.  iJut  even  had  I  not  received  express  orders  to 
that  puipose,  could  I  find  the  courage  to  reappear  before 
your  worthy  parent,  unaccompanied  by  the  son  he  grieves 
for?     Ah,  sir,  were  you  to  see  him!   already  his  life 

*  To  the  Despots— title  given  to  the  Greek  bishops. 


ANASTASIUS.  319 

hangs  upon  a  thread.  Seeing  me  return  alone  would  cer- 
tainly break  his  heart." 

"  Hark  ye,  Marco,"  replied  Spiridion,  pacing  backward 
and  forward  in  an  agitation  which  ahnost  bordered  upon 
phrensy:  "My  father  gave  me  a  charge  which  he  cannot 
at  will  recall.  It  was  witnessed  by  Heaven,  and  was 
recorded  by  angels  I  In  conformity  witli  liis  solemn 
commands,  and  in  compliance  with  my  sacred  promise,  I 
have  toiled  at  my  task.  God  knows  I  have  not  spared 
myself.  But  on  the  eve  of  completion,  I  cannot,  must 
not  give  up  my  work  unfinished.  On  my  head  would  lie, 
to  the  end  of  time,  the  sins  of  a  brother  unreclaimed.  If, 
therefore,  you  urge  me  no  further,  but  quietly  return  to 
Kandilly,  1  pledge  my  honour,  nay,  if  you  wish  it,  I  take 
a  solemn  oatli,  that  all  on  my  part  shall  end  to  my 
father's  satisfaction.  If  you  refuse  me,  the  soul  I  stand 
pledged  for  shall  not  be  lost  alone,  two  shall  plunge 
together  into  ruin  everlasting — I  run  to  the  first  mosque, 
and  whatever  be  the  consequence — may  it  fall  upon  your 
head  !" 

"  Sir,"  replied  Marco,  "  I  grieve  at  this  issue  of  my 
commission ;  but  the  will  of  God  be  done  !  Many  years 
have  I  lived  under  your  kind  roof,  many  an  hour  have  I 
had  you  in  my  arms  as  an  infant,  as  a  child,  as  a  boy. 
From  the  day  on  which  you  first  lisped  the  feehngs  of 
your  aflfectionate  heart,  to  that  on  which  you  left  your 
home,  never  have  I  known  your  promise  fail.  The  word 
of  Spiridion  was  always  that  of  truth !  I  therefore  sub- 
mit. I  return  alone  :  yet  may  I  hope  you  will  deign  to 
let  me  carry  to  your  father  a  few  lines  of  comfort  from 
your  beloved  hands." 

Spiridion,  in  ruiming  home  to  comply  with  the  request, 
■only  performed  what  he  already  had  promised.  I,  mean- 
while, remained  alone  with  Marco,  and  availed  myself  of 
the  opportunity  to  question  him  respecting  the  reports 
of  Kandilly.  They  were  more  satisfactory  than  I  could 
have  hoped. 

When,  on  the  morning  after  my  departure,  the  son  of 
the  capidjee  was  found  already  taking  his  last  sleep  in 
the  proper  place,  the  public  cemetery,  no  one  suspected 
me  of  being  the  public  benefactor  who  had  introduced 
him  to  the  silent,  sedate  sort  of  company  in  which  he  for 
tlie  first  time  spent  the  night ;  inasmuch  as  he  was  noto- 
rious for  his  outrageous  conduct,  and  at  the  time  I  met 
him  had  several  other  quarrels  on  his  hands,  much  more 


320  AXASTASIUS. 

public  than  the  one  for  which  he  suffered :  but  everybody 
agreed,  tliat  whoever  had  taken  the  trouble  of  ridding  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  nuisance  rather  deserved  thanks 
than  blame.  As  to  my  disappearance,  a  sufficient  cause 
for  it  was  charitably  found  in  the  very  natural  wish  of  a 
needy  adventurer  to  fleece  a  wealthy  heir. 

These  particulars  left  me  an  opening  to  return  to  Con- 
stantinople whenever  I  liked.  I  ran  to  relate  them  to 
Spiridion,  ere  he  concluded  his  letter ;  and  they  relieved 
his  mind  completely.  He  pledged  himself  soon  to  bring 
back  to  his  father  two  sons  instead  of  one ;  and  on  this 
assurance  old  Marco  took  his  leave.  1  proceeded  to  settle 
with  my  brothers  respecting  the  succession.* 

Had  I  quietly  stepped  into  an  undisputed  property,  and 
found  nothing  to  do  but  to  mourn  to  my  heart's  content 
for  the  loss  of  a  parent,  1  would  have  fulfilled  to  the  ut- 
most punctuality  all  the  observances  of  grief.  Sadness 
really  possessed  my  soul,  and  I  had  constantly  before  my 
eyes  my  poor  father  in  his  illness,  wishing  to  see  his  Anas- 
tasius,  to  forgive  him,  and  to  (he  in  his  arms;  and  per- 
haps in  his  last  moments,  and  when  I  would  have  gone  to 
the  world's  end  for  his  blessing,  pierced  to  the  heart  by 
exaggerated  accounts  of  my  unfeeling  and  incorrigible 
profligacy.  Bat  if  mere  business  accords  but  ill  with 
sorrow,  nothing  is  so  sure  to  drive  melancholy  away 
altogether  as  strife  and  bickerings ;  and  my  brotiiers  were 
much  too  considerate  not  to  afford  me  every  distraction 
of  this  sort  which  they  could  think  of.  Theirs  was  a 
malice  which  no  kindness  of  mine  could  assuage  ;  and  the 
moment  my  formal  renunciation  of  tlieir  portions  made 
them  conceive  all  cause  either  for  hope  or  fear  on  my 
score  at  an  end,  their  ill-concealed  hatred  again  broke 
out  in  all  its  pristine  virulence.  They  not  only  cavilled 
about  every  most  trifling  article  of  the  prcjjjcrty,  they  even 
attempted  to  deprive  my  conduct  of  all  its  little  merit,  by 
roundly  asserting  that  I  had  only  acted  from  pusilla- 
nimity, and  sa(;rificed  a  part  to  make  sure  of  the  remain- 
der. Constantine  vvas  tiie  leader  in  every  altercation. 
Eustathiiis,  more  indolent,  contented  himself  with  giving 
his  unlimited  approbation  to  whatever  his  brother  (and 
that  meant  Uonstaiuine  alone)  thought  proper  to  do. 

Thus  were  all  the  ancient  wounds  afresh  lorn  open 
and  made  to  fester.  Spiridion  tried  in  vain  to  interpose. 
He  only  got  for  his  trouble  taunts  from  his  antagonists, 
and  reproaches  from  me.     "  Why  had  he  meddled  at  all  ? 


ANASTASIUS.  321 

"Why  had  he  made  it  a  point  with  me  to  behave  kindly  to 
unnatural  brothers,  whose  injustice,  but  for  his  interfer- 
ence, would  have  met  with  its  deserts." 

And  yet,  notwithstanding  my  murmurings,  did  I  to  a 
certain  degree  restrain  myself;  not  from  any  real  mode- 
ration, but  from  the  wish  that  my  assumed  forbearance 
might  encourage  my  adversaries  to  so  extreme  a  pitch  of 
ill  conduct,  as  to  reader  their  provocations  evident  to  all 
the  world,  and  to  justify  any  step  prompted  by  my  legiti- 
mate resentment.  Nor  did  this  period  seem  far  distant. 
Whether  from  an  idea  that  they  had  daunted  me  by  their 
haughty  tone,  or  from  an  absolute  intoxication  of  bru- 
tality, they  by  degrees  cast  away  all  pretensions  of  de- 
cency The  more  I  forced  myself  to  appear  calm  and 
'.'omposed,  the  more  they  increased  in  the  grossness  of 
their  insults. 

All  wondered  at  my  patience  ;  all  beheld  me  with  admi- 
ration. When  my  brothers  allowed  themselves  every 
license  of  language — almost  eveiy  latitude  of  gesture — 
all  stared  to  see  me  content  myself  with  turning  up  my 
eyes  to  heaven  lilce  a  saint  cast  among  savages.  Even  ' 
those  least  acquainted  with  the  irascible  temper  I  had  to 
restrain  cited  me  on  this  occasion  as  a  perfect  model  of 
meekness  and  forbearance.  He  only  who  with  unwea- 
ried vigilance  watched  each  change  of  my  countenance, 
and  could  penetrate  each  emotion  of  my  heart,  was  not 
io  be  deceived.  One  day,  when  Constantine  even  ex- 
ceeded his  usual  insolence,  and  I  my  customary  forbear- 
ance, I  caught  him  expressing,  by  an  almost  impercepti- 
ble shake  of  the  liead,  his  distrust  of  my  tranquillity.  His 
suspicions  were  spoken  too  intelligibly  for  me  to  pass 
over.  "  What  do  you  fear,"  cried  I,  as  soqh  as  my  bro- 
thers were  out  of  hearing ;  "  do  you  not  see  me  laugh 
at  their  meanness?"  "Ah!"  replied  Spiridion,  fetching 
a  deep  sigh,  "  you  may  laugh  with  your  lips  ;  but  laughter 
reaches  not  your  eyes,  and  fell  resentment  rankles  iu 
your  heart." 

My  friend  was  right.  Suppressed  anger  had  already 
curdled  my  blood,  and  clogged  the  whole  circulation 
of  my  humours.  Ere  yet  he  had  done  speaking,  a 
.sudden  shivering  rushed  through  my  frame — my  teeth 
began  to  chatter,  and  my  hmbs  to  shake.  In  an  instant 
all  my  strength  seemed  to  forsake  me. 

Since  my  sojourn  at  Chio  1  had  resumed  my  old  travel- 
ling custom  of  carrying  my  pistols  duly  loaded  iii  my 
03 


322  ANASTASIU9. 

belt.  Many  in  Turkey  always  wear  them  thus  when  out 
of  the  capital.  As  they  now  impeded  my  breathing,  I 
took  them  out,  and  laid  them  on  the  sofa.  Scarce  was  I 
disencumbered  of  my  weapons,  when  my  knees  began  to 
tremble,  a  dark  curtain  seemed  to  drop  over  my  eyes, 
and  I  fell  senseless  on  the  couch. 

I  continued  some  time  bereft  of  all  perception.  On  its 
return  I  found  myself  stretched  out  at  full  length  where 
I  had  fallen,  with  all  the  accompaniments  of  one  duly 
convicted  of  a  decided  and  lasting  illness.  A  regular 
physician  of  the  place  Avas  feeling  my  pulse,  and  going 
to  pronounce  on  my  case ;  and  as  my  first  return  to  my 
senses  was  marked  by  a  fierce  struggle  with  my  Escula- 
pius,  I  was  at  once  judged  to  be  in  a  violent  delirium,  and 
in  imminent  danger.  Sentence  was  pronounced  accord- 
ingly, and  every  internal  medicine  and  every  external 
application  prescribed  which  could  torture  the  human 
body  and  stomach.  All  the  bystanders  conceived  me  in 
the  agonies  of  death,  and  civilly  expressed  their  regret 
at  the  short  stay  I  made  among  them. 

To  myself  these  politenesses  seemed  premature.  The 
sudden  transitions  from  heat  to  cold,  the  suppressed  per- 
spiration, the  fatigue  of  body  and  the  anxiety  of  mind 
during  the  journey  were  quite  sufficient,  in  my  own 
opinion,  to  bring  on  a  strong  paroxysm  of  fever,  without 
death  being  the  necessary  consequence.  I  however 
deemed  it  expedient  to  assent  to  all  the  doctor  said,  in 
order  that  lie  might  say  no  more.  It  afforded  Spiridion 
an  excuse  for  turning  out  the  company,  and  procuring 
me  a  little  quiet.     He  alone  staid  to  nurse  me. 

"  What  a  pity,"  muttered  I  to  myself,  when  I  thought 
no  one  heard  me,  "  tliat  that  last  dose  of  the  English 
powders  of  mine  should  have  been  wasted  in  Egypt  on 
that  traitor  my  father-in-law."  Spiridion  lost  not  a  syl- 
lable of  the  soliloquy.  "  There  are  foreign  vessels  in  the 
harbonr,"  he  cried.  "  Possibly  they  may  have  some ;"  and 
he  immediately  ran  out  to  inquire. 

Meanwhile  my  brothers  had  received  from  the  departed 
visiters  the  agreeable  inteUigence  of  my  being  at  the  last 
gasp.  They  hastened  up  to  me,  eager  with  curiosity  and 
hope;  and  finding  my  door  ajar  and  unguarded,  slipped 
in  with  the  least  possible  noise.  I  however  had  dis- 
cerned their  steps  on  the  stairs,  and  immediately — before 
they  entered  the  room — assumed  the  ai)pearance  of  one 
in  the  act  of  resigning  his  last  breath.    Constantine  wa.s 


ANASTASIUS.  323 

the  first  to  approacli.  On  tiptoe  he  came  to  my  Ijcdsido 
in  order  to  ascertain  whether  his  joy  was  well  founded, 
ere  he  gave  it  full  scope.  With  that  laudable  view  he 
examined  me  most  minutely  from  head  to  foot,  raised 
and  let  fall  itiy  arms  and  logs,  moved  his  hand  before  my 
eyes,  put  his  ear  to  my  mouth,  first  addressed  me  in  a 
low  whisper,  then  audibly,  tlien  sliouting  with  all  his 
might,  as  if  he  suspected  I  miglit  be  playing  him  a  trick. 

Most  manfully  did  I  stand  the  whole  ordeal.  Nothing 
could  make  me  wince  or  move  a  muscle ;  and  my  affec- 
tionate brother  at  last  acquired  the  grateful  conviction, 
that  if  not  quite  dead  yet,  I  had  at  least  already  lost  all 
perception,  and  could  not  fail  soon  to  depart  for  ever. 
He  no  longer  delayed  conveying  the  agreeable  intelli- 
gence to  the  discreet  Eustathius,  who,  the  hindmost  on 
all  other  occasions,  on  this  also  had  not  ventured  beyond 
the  door,  and  there  stood,  in  breathless  expectation,  wait- 
ing the  result  of  the  scrutiny ;  and  perhaps  also  watching 
the  condition  of  the  outposts." 

"  Statlii,"  said  Constantine,  with  a  sort  of  subdued  ex- 
ultation, "  there  is  some  warmth  still  about  him — but  de- 
pend upon  it  he  caimot  last !" 

"  Ah !"  exclaimed  tlie  wary  Stathi,  shaking  his  head, 
"  worse  than  he,  I  fear,  have  recovered !"  and  he  fetched 
a  deep  sigli  at  the  thought ! 

"  True,"  answered  Constantine ;  "  and  as  we  are  alone, 
and  have  every  presumption  in  our  favour,  why  not  make 
sure  work,  and  crush  the  snake  at  once  !"  x\nd  so  saying, 
he  laid  his  hands  on  my  throat,  and  attempted  to 
strangle  me. 

This  was  doing  things  in  a  grand  style !  Not  stopping 
at  half  measuresr  1  conceived  for  my  brother  a  venera- 
tion unfelt  before,  almost  thought  it  a  pity  to  interrupt 
him  in  his  spirited  proceeding,  and  would  have  let  the 
farce  go  on,  could  I,  at  its  conclusion,  have  revived  at 
my  own  pleasure.  Tliat  not  being  the  case,  I  was  reluc- 
tantly forced  to  notice  the  intended  favour,  and,  weak  as 
I  felt,  to  defend  myself  as  well  as  I  could  against  my  two 
stout  assailants  ;  for  Stathi  too  now  advanced  to  lend  a 
hand ;  and  it  was  evident,  that  having  once  begun,  they 
would  not,  if  they  any  way  could  help  it,  leave  their  work 
unfinished. 

My  firearms  lay  concealed,  but  within  reach.  With 
one  hand  I  seized"  Constantine's  wrist,  and  with  tlie  other 
a  pistol,—"  Ah  brother !  ah  fiend  1"  I  cried— and  fired. 


324  ANASTASHT8. 

Never  yet  had  I  missed  my  aim,  eyen  when  I  held  not. 
my  prey  in  my  grasp.  But  at  my  first  sign  of  life  Con- 
stantine  had  started,  and,  content  to  leave  his  jubbee  in 
my  possession,  liad  disengaged  his  person.  My  hand, 
besides,  trembled  with  the  effects  of  the  fever — perhaps 
even  with  some  instinctive  sense  of  the  dire  office  it  was 
performing,  and — the  miscreant  only  received  the  ball  in 
his  shoulder. 

Uttering  a  dreadful  yell,  he  made  a  spring  at  the  door, 
and  darted  out.  Ere  I  could  find  my  other  pistol,  Eusta- 
thius  too  had  made  good  his  retreat.  Both  were  out  of 
sight  in  an  instant,  but  not  out  of  hearing.  My  ears  bore 
Avitness  to  Statin's  stumbling  down  stairs,  with  such  vio- 
lence and  outcry,  as  to  make  me  entertain  hopes  that 
neither  of  them  had  entirely  escaped  the  merited  retri- 
bution. 

As  soon  as,  after  a  few  dying  murmurs,  all  was  again 
hushed  in  silence — "  Now,"  thought  I, "  for  the  tete-a-tete 
with  Spiridion!  According  to  custom,  he  will  lay  the 
whole  blame  on  me.  He  will  deem  my  good  brothers' 
intentions  all  very  wise  and  proper  ;  will  see  much  sound 
reason  in  them,  and  will  not  be  content,  I  suppose,  until 
I  go  to  them  with  a  halter  round  my  neck,  beg  pardon 
for  my  impatience  in  stopping  their  proceedings,  and  hum- 
bly supplicate  them  to  put  their  design  into  execution  !" 

Meanwhile,  the  report  of  the  pistol  had  a  second  time 
collected  the  whole  neighbourhood  round  my  door.  But, 
if  pronounced  delirious  before,  I  now  was  supposed  to  be 
under  the  influence  of  a  phrensy  so  outrageous,  that  no 
one  durst  step  across  my  threshold.  The  curious  con- 
tented themselves  with  forming  a  blockade  outside  the 
room,  each  holding  himself  in  readiness  to  fall  back,  and 
to  shove  his  neighbour  in  his  place,  should  I  make  an 
unexpected  sally. 

This  state  of  things  continued  until  Spiridion's  return. 
His  expedition  had  been  unsuccessful.  When  he  ap- 
peared, so  many  officious  friends  sprung  forward  to  tell 
him  what  had  happened  in  his  absence,  that  it  Avould 
have  been  utterly  impossible  for  him  to  understaruJ  a 
single  word  of  the  matter,  supposing  even  that  the 
relators  themselves  had  known  the  truth.  But  my  bro- 
thers, to  whom  they  were  indebted  for  all  their  informa- 
tion, had,  in  their  hurry,  dropped  the  trifling  circumstance 
t)(  their  attempt  upon  my  life,  in  which  the  affair  began. 
Despairing,  therefore,  to  make  any  thing  of  the  confused 


ANASTASIU8.  325 

and  contradictory  accounts  with  which  he  was  stunned, 
Spiridion  at  last  pushed  aside  the  crowd,  and,  to  the 
utter  astonishment  of  all,  entered  my  room  undaunted 
and  alone ! 

He  found  me  seated  on  the  sofa,  with  my  face  in  my 
hands,  and  my  elbows  on  my  knees,  overwhelmed  more 
Avith  disappointment  than  with  shame,  and  incapable 
either  of  raising  my  eyes  or  of  unclosing  my  lips.  Thus 
I  remained,  wlioUy  unmindful  of  his  entrance,  until,  after 
some  time  contemplating  me  in  silent  earnestness,  he  at 
last  took  a  seat  beside  me,  and  spoke. 

"  Selim,"  said  he,  "  am  I  to  believe  these  people  1  are 
you  really  out  of  your  mind ;  or  rather,  as  I  apprehend, 
perfectly  in  your  senses  ■?" 

"  In  my  perfect  senses,"  answered  I,  with  all  the  com- 
posure of  which  I  was  master.  "  My  hand  was  raised 
to  punish  demons.  This  time  they  have  escaped! — But 
what  is  not  yet,  may  be  !" 

"  Never,  never,"  cried  he,  "  while  I  have  life. — Rather 
than  that  you  should  hurt  your  brothers,  my  breast  shall 
interpose." 

"Then  through  your  breast,"  I  exclaimed,  "must  I 
strike  them." 

Spiridion  here  rose.  "  Anastasius,"  said  he,  calmly, 
"  I  feel  but  little  wish  to  live :  not  however  at  thy  hands 
must  I  receive  my  death-blow!  My  bosom  may  be 
pierced  by  thy  speech,  but  let  it  remain  sacred  from  thy 
sword.  The  world  must  not  have  it  to  say  that  thou 
couldst  plunge  thy  dagger  into  the  heart  of  thy  friend. 
The  crime  would  be  as  idle  as  it  would  appear  heinous. 
If  ray  presence  be  a  burthen  to  thee,  say  but  the  word, 
and  I  go." 

"  I  never  desired  you  to  stay,"  cried  I,  in  a  sullen  tone. 

"  Very  well,"  rejo'inod  Spiridion.     "  You  speak  plain. 

Yet,  ere  I  act  accordingly,  once  more,  and  for  the  last 
time,  I  appeal  from  Anastasius  blinded  by  passion  to  Anas- 
tasius restored  to  reason.  In  an  hour  hence  I  return  and 
repeat  the  same  question.  If  the  answer  be  the  same — 
then  farewell,  and  for  ever !" 

At  these  words  Spiridion  went  out,  and  tranquillized 
the  gentlemen  drawn  up  in  the  passage  with  respect  to 
my  situation.  On  my  friend's  assurances  they  all  rushed 
in,  and  teased  me  with  so  many  questions,  and  with  so 
much  advice,  that  they  almost  made  me  lose  the  little 
wits  I  had  left.    Their  annoyance  still  lasted,  when,  at 


326  ANASTASItrS. 

the  expiration  of  the  hour,  Spiridion  returned.  Without 
seeking  it,  he  had  gained  so  universal  a  sway  by  his 
dignified  demeanour,  that  at  his  desire  all  retired.  The 
room  being  cleared  of  strangers,  he  took  me  by  the 
hand,  and  finding  that  the  symptoms  of  bodily  disorder 
had  subsided,  he  looked  sternly  in  my  face,  and  spoke 
thus: 

"  This,  Anastasius,  is  at  last  the  moment  which  must 
decide  my  resolution.  Tlie  solemn  vow  is  irrevocably 
spoken;  and  according  to  what  you  now  answer,  I  may 
stay,  or  I  must  leave  you  for  ever.  Do  you  swear  by  all 
that  is  holy  to  renounce  your  impious  revenge,  or  do  you 
prefer  to  be  released  from  my  society  1 — If  the  last,  utter 
not,  I  beseecli  you,  the  ungracious  M'ord.  Only  withdraw 
your  hand." 

Undoubtedly  this  would  have  been  the  moment  for  tho- 
roughly explaining  the  business  with  my  brothers,  of  which 
my  friend  knew  but  half,  and  of  which  that  half  more 
than  doubled  my  guilt.  Not  aware  that  my  own  life  had 
been  attempted  first,  and  ignorant  tliat  I  acted  in  my  own 
defence,  Spiridion  considered  my  illness  as  a  pretence, 
or,  at  any  rate,  my  firing  as  a  premeditated  scheme.  It 
would  have  been  easy  to  remove  his  error : — had  not  my 
bare  word  sufficed,  Constantine's  torn  garment  would 
have  borne  witness  to  the  struggle.  But  after  my  solemn 
promise  at  Mytilene,  I  considered  the  bare  suspicion  as 
so  injurious  to  my  honour,  that  my  offended  pride  forbade 
my  undeceiving  my  friend  or  clearing  my  character.  1 
pulled  away  my  hand,  and  Spiridion  walked  out. — Yet, 
God  knows,  1  did  not  wisli  to  lose  him ! 

As  soon  as  he  had  left  me,  I  paced  up  and  down  the 
room  \vith  ;i  liurried  step.  Aftei-  a  few  turns  I  went  out 
to  fetch  breath  on  the  quay.  An  Iiour's  air  and  exercise 
changed  the  current  of  my  ideas.  I  felt  regret  for  my 
obstinacy,  and  f(;ar  of  its  consequences.  With  the  utmost 
speed  I  ran  home,  and  up  to  Spiridion's  chamber. 

He  was  closing  his  portmanteau.  The  things  about 
the  floor  had  disappeared.  All  looked  empty,  orderly, 
and  desolate. 

"  What  means  this  ?"  cried  I,  affecting  more  surpiise 
than  I  felt. 

"  Only,"  replied  Spiridion,  "  that  what  I  said,  I  do." 

"All,  my  friend,  my  real  brother,"  exclaimed  I,  "do 
you  then,  in  sad  earnest,  purpose  to  leave  me?  Cursed 
be  my  tongue,  wiiich  uttered  what  my  heart  had  no  share 


ANASTASITJS.  327 

in ;  and  cursed  be  my  hand,  which  confinned  the  untruths 
of  my  tongue !" 

"  Anastasius,"  now  said  Spiridion,  seating  himself  upon 
his  little  bundle,  "  fancy  not  your  last  words  and  actions 
to  have  been  the  solo  and  primary  cause  of  a  long-formed 
and  long-resisted  resolution.  Its  origin  dates  far  higher. 
The  unkind  speeches  and  gestures  of  this  day  only  gave 
the  final  impulse ! 

"  From  children  we  were  brothers  in  love.  When  you 
rescued  me  from  death,  the  day  that  all  our  companions 
stood  palsied  by  fear,  gratitude  only  riveted  affection's 
prior  links ;  and  duty,  I  hoped,  had  rendered  them  indis- 
soluble, when  my  father  himself  named  you  his  second 
son !  Many  j'^ears  his  commands  of  fraternal  kindness 
to  his  Spiridion's  preserver  remained  without  fruit.  You 
yourself  best  know  how.  Yet  was  tlie  deep-rooted 
attachment  of  childhood  never  replaced  by  more  recent 
friendships ;  and  when  I  again  beheld  you  at  Constan- 
tinople, my  feelings  for  my  Anastasius  still  preserved  all 
their  freshness  unfaded.  Evil  inclinations  of  no  ordinary- 
magnitude,  indeed,  I  saw  mixed  with  your  better  quali- 
ties; but  I  thought  that,  if  freed  from  ilieir  alloy,  your 
virtue  too  would  eclipse  ordinary  virtue ;  and  I  imagined 
an  unbounded  devotion  might  enable  me  to  become  the 
instrument  of  so  noble  a  reformation.  I  undertook  the 
task.  I  resolved  to  save  from  perdition  your  soul,  as 
you  had  saved  my  body  ;  and  I  prayed  the  Almighty  to 
bless  the  undertaking.  Some  return  on  myself  also, 
some  selfish  feelings  perhaps  were  mixed  with  my  wishes 
for  your  welfare.  I  could  not  help  fancying  that,  regen- 
erated through  me,  you  would  become  my  support  and 
my  consolation  in  the  irksome  race  I  am  destined  to  nin; 
that,  in  your  turn,  you  might  assist  me  in  tlie  struggles 
and  dangers  that  strew  the  rugged  path  throiigli  which  I 
am  destined  to  journey.  In  short,  I  hoped  that,  each 
blest  in  the  otlier,  we" should  toil  through  life  together, 
and  that  when  shone  forth  our  last  day,  whichever  was 
summoned  first  should  only  die  in  the  other's  loved  arms. 
Great  as  were  the  pains  you  took  to  expos'^  my  presump- 
tion and  to  dispel  my  foolish  dream,  long  did  my  soul 
firmly  cling  to  its  fond  chimera  ;  long  did  my  heart  hug 
it  as  a  thing  too  precious  to  part  with ! 

"  But  there  are  lights  that  even  strike  tlie  blind.  Re- 
in:, tantly,  thougli  irresistibly,  I  have  at  last  been  forced 
to  see  that  no  arguments,  no  persuasion,  no  labour  of 


328  ANASTASIUS. 

mine  have  power  to  control  the  passions  which  enslave 
you;  and  that,  however  I  may  strive,  I  still  must  leave 
you  ungovernable,  and  you  still  must  leave  me  wretched, 
as  before.  Much  as  I  tried  to  avert  my  eyes  from  the 
fatal  truth,  I  have  at  last  yielded  to  the  painful  conviction 
that,  sooner  or  later,  we  still  must  end  in  separating  for 
ever;  and  that,  by  trying  to  put  off  the  evil  day  by 
struggling  for  a  short  and  transient  respite,  I  can  only  at 
last  drink  the  cup  with  greater  bitterness.  I  therefore 
submit  to  the  decrees  of  Heaven :  I  bow  to  the  will  of 
Providence  in  flying  from  thee,  as  I  erst  hoped  to  fulfil  it 
by  following  thy  footsteps.  In  sadness  I  go ;  but  1  go, 
and  for  ever !  Far  from  thee  I  henceforth  shall  live ;  and 
far  from  thee  it  will  be  my  fate  to  die !  Yet,  Selim,  thou 
art  young  still.  What  the  anxious  warnings  of  friend- 
ship could  not  perform,  the  leaden  hand  of  time  may 
achieve.  It  may  allay  the  ferment  of  thy  passions,  clear 
away  the  impurities  of  thy  heart,  and — though  I  shall 
not  witness  the  blissful  change — still  make  thee  great 
and  virtuous.  This  happy  consummation  God  in  his 
goodness  grant !" 

"Ah,  Spiridion,"  cried  I,  claspiug  my  friend  in  my 
arms,  "you  cannot,  you  shall  not  leave  me  thus!"  But 
he,  fearing  his  own  weakness,  in  order  to  render  a  relapse 
impossible,  "  On  my  head  be  God's  eternal  curse — be  that 
of  my  aged  father!"  he  exclaimed,  "if  I  do  not  imme- 
diately return  to  my  })aternal  roof!" 

I  now  felt  all  remonstrance  to  be  fruitless.  "  You  are 
right,"  replied  1.  "  The  game  could  not  go  on  between 
us.  Tlie  stakes  were  not  even.  Loaded  with  the  gifts 
of  Providence,  and  accountable  to  your  fellow-creatures 
for  their  use,  you  may  not  squander  your  ample  means 
on  a  barren  soil,  nor  seek  luin  with  a  reprobate  v\'hom 
you  cannot  save.  Yot,  if  once  Anastasius  did  possess 
your  love,  and  still  returns  all  your  affection;  if  that 
wretch,  that  reprobate,  in  the  midst  of  all  his  errors, 
never  ceased  to  reverence  your  virtues  ;  if  his  spirit,  un- 
daunted by  all  else,  stooped  to  you,  and  worshipped  you 
alone — Oli,  Spiridion,  listen!  At  present  that,  bereft  of 
all  hope,  indeed,  weaned  of  all  wish  to  hear  a  sentence 
repealed  on  wliicli  depends  your  peace,  he  for  ever 
renoiniccs  tlie  linp]tineHs  of  your  society,  nay,  urges  you 
himself  to  fly  his  baut;ful  presence;  at  least  grant  this 
only  last  request — grant  what  he  who  never  yet  humbled 
himself  before  nmrtal  man  implores  of  you  on  his  bended 


ANASTASIUS.  329 

knee :  tell  him — lay  this  unction  to  his  sickening  soul  to 
know — that  you  do  not  hold  him  in  utter  detestation ! — 
that  on  leaving  him  to  return  no  more,  you  at  least  feel  a 
pang ;  and  when — all  earthly  things  gone  by  like  unsub- 
stantial shadows — comes  the  day  of  your  reward  in 
heaven  for  the  good  deeds  done  on  this  earth — when, 
before  the  throne  of  Mercy,  arrayed  in  all  your  worth, 
you  receive  your  well-earned  meed  of  ineffable  joy,  cast 
back  one  look  of  pity  on  the  wretch  wlio,  overwhelmed 
by  the  weight  of  his  guilt,  sinks  while  you  rise  to  glory. 
Speak  for  him  to  your  Rlaker  one  poor  word  of  interces- 
sion: and  beg  he  may  not  fall  so  low  in  the  abyss  of 
wretchedness,  but  that  from  an  immeasurable  distance  he 
still  may  behold  and  be  consoled  by  your  bliss !" 

"If  at  any  time  here  or  hereafter,"  cried  Spiridion,  "I 
forget  you,  may  Heaven  forsake  me  !"  and  bending  down 
his  head,  he  wept  aloud. 

After  some  time  he  rose  up,  and  wiping  away  his  tears, 
"  I  have  made  you,"  said  he,  "  a  promise  to  hold  good  for 
eternity ;  now  make  one  in  your  turn  to  last  only  a  short 
space  of  time." 
"  Any  you  please,"  I  answered. 

"  What  a  temptation  that !"  rejoined  my  friend. — "  But 
I  shall  not  abuse  your  confidence.  I  shall  not  ask  what 
you  cannot  perform.  It  was  only  a  trifling  favour  I 
wanted  for  mutual  mitigation  of  pain.  Take  this  watch," 
he  added,  giving  me  the  one  he  wore ;  "  and  count  just 
twenty  minutes  ere  you  stir  from  this  spot." — Saying 
which,  he  took  up  his  parcel,  and  walked  to  the  door.  I 
tried  to  remonstrate  and  to  stop  him ;  but  gently  pushing 
me  aside,  "  You  have  promised,"  he  cried,  and  instantly 
disappeared. 

I  ran  after  my  friend  as  far  as  my  pledged  honour  would 
permit— to  the  threshold  of  my  room,  and  there  called 
him  back  with  loud  and  repeated  cries;  but  in  vain! 
Spellbound  by  my  promise,  I  stood  motionless  on  the 
utmost  verge  of  my  apartment,  with  ears  stretched  out 
to  catch  each  fleeting  sound,  and  eyes  riveted  on  the 
hands  of  my  watch.  At  first  I  perceived  some  commo- 
tion, some  distant  bustle  in  the  house,  some  running  back- 
ward and  forward ;  but  very  soon  all  these  noises  sunk 
away  in  a  dreary  and  lasting  silence.  Yet  were  there 
several  long  minutes  wanting  of  the  point  marked  on  the 
inexorable  dial  for  my  release.  Each  of  these  appeared 
an  entire  age,  composed  of  many  lesser  periods  of  end- 


330  ANASTASIUS. 

less  duration ;  and  all  the  time  I  kept  my  eyes  straining 
on  the  figures,  as  if  my  bare  look  could  quicken  by  its 
motion  the  impulse  of  the  hands.  At  last  they  approached 
the  goal,  glided  over  the  last  second,  and  attained  the  long- 
wished-for  term !  I  now  dart  forward  like  an  arrow :  I 
run,  I  leap,  I  fly;  first,  through  the  house  from  room  to 
room ;  next,  on  finding  all  deserted  within,  out  into  the 
street,  and  lastly  to  the  quay. 

There  I  perceive  nothing  but  an  indifferent  and  gapuig 
crowd,  which  my  eyes  in  vain  interrogate,  and  which 
gives  me  no  satisfactory  answer.  Wherever  I  look  no 
iSpiridion  appears ! 

Fearfully  I  at  last  cast  my  eye  on  the  wave ;  and  after 
an  anxious  search  among  the  shipping  in  the  road,  spy, 
already  far  away,  a  small  caick,  which,  with  stress  of  sails 
and  oars,  seems  steerhig  towards  Tchesme.  A  young 
man,  I  was  told,  for  whom  the  caick  lay  waiting,  had 
been  seen  to  step  in,  with  his  face  wrapped  in  his  shawl ; 
and  iminediately  the  boat  was  pushed  off,  and  cleft  the 
billows  with  such  speed  as  already  to  appear  little  more 
than  a  mere  speck. 

The  young  man  Avas  Spiridion — and  my  first  impulse 
to  go  after  him.  I  railed  for  another  barge ;  but  while 
it  was  preparmg,  thoughts  more  sober  drove  away  my 
first  design. 

Why,  in  fact,  follow  a  friend  determined  to  fly  from 
mc!— Was  not  his  purpose  irrevocably  fixed]  Went  he 
not  back  to  his  father  and  his  home  ]  Was  he  not  right 
in  doing  so  1  Did  not  the  happiness  of  his  life  depend 
upon  this  measure  ]  was  I  to  impede  his  progress  or  to 
increase  his  parting  pangs,  and  that  from  a  mere  selfish 
feeling'?  For  what  now  could  he  gain  by  aught  that  I 
could  say  or  do  1 

Immediately  I  gave  up  the  short-lived  project,  and 
liaviiig  paid  for  the  trouble  I  occasioned,  walked  away, 
and  sought  on  the  beach  a  more  retired  spot  in  which  to 
vent  my  sorrows.  Distracted  by  so  many  opposite  feel- 
ings that  I  scarce  seemed  to  feel  at  all,  I  threw  myself  on 
the  ground,  and  moistened  witli  my  tears  the  sand  on 
whicli  I  lay. 

"  All  now,"  cried  I,  "  to  me  is  at  an  end;  my  abode  is 
become  a  desert,  my  life  a  scene  of  solitude,  my  veiy 
existence  a  blot  in  the  creation  !" — and  hereupon  1  struck 
my  breast,  until,  exhausted  by  my  grief,  I  grew  somewhat 
more  quiet,  and  began  my  song  of  sorrow. 


ANASTASIUS-  331 

111  the  midst  of  my  melancholy  ditty,  I  remembered 
that,  together  with  his  watch,  Spiridion  had  slipped  into 
my  hands  a  pocket-book,  which,  not  knowing  what  to  do 
with,  I  had  thrust  into  my  bosom.  I  now  pulled  out  the 
toy.  It  iniglit  contain  some  farewell  token;  some  last 
and  sacred  behest. 

A  few  words  had  indeed  been  written  on  one  of  the  leaves, 
but  had  been  rubbed  out  again.  The  only  uncancelled 
manuscript  I  could  find,  and  to  which  the  case  seemed 
intended  as  a  vehicle,  was  a  loose  slip  of  paper,  an  order 
to  the  bearer — but  to  what  amount  I  know  not:  for 
without  looking  at  the  figures  I  tore  the  draft  to  pieces, 
and  scattered  the  useless  fragments  in  the  wind.  No 
sooner,  however,  had  I  done  so,  than  I  regretted  my 
precipitation.  The  sum  was  nothing !  I  never  meant  to 
claim  it ;  but  the  last  signature  of  my  friend  in  my  behalf 
— what  to  me  could  be  equally  precious  ?  As  of  many 
other  things,  however,  I  felt  its  value  when  too  late! 
Already  had  the  surf  washed  away  the  last  remnant  of 
tlie  paper. 

I  now  pressed  to  my  lips  the  empty  book.  "Last 
remembrance,"  exclaimed  I,  "of  a  friend  for  ever' lost, 
be  thou  my  sole  unceasing  companion.  Lie  ever  next 
my  heart.  Continue  its  segis  against  all  evil  passions. 
Preserve  me  henceforth,  not  from  grief,  but  from  sin !" 

This  said,  I  started  up,  and  left  the  lonely  spot :  but 
as  I  returned  among  the  bustling  throng,  my  sadness 
increased.  Why  did  I  any  longer  tarry  in  my  native 
land  1  How  could  I  face  my  countrymen,  abandoned  as 
I  was  by  my  friend?  "  Ah,"  cried  I,  "  since  I  have  him 
no  more  to  guide  and  to  support  me,  let  me  fly  from  Chio 
as  from  the  place  of  my  shame.  Let  me  seek  refuge  in 
Egypt,  at  Algiers,  in  France — or  wherever  else  men 
acquire  fame  by  destroying  each  other !  There  let  me 
in  the  din  of  arms  forget  friendship's  silenced  voice 
—there  pass  my  days  in  strife — there  conquer,  or  there 
die !" 

Conformably  to  this  resolution,  I  determined  not  to 
stay  for  the  completion  of  the  settlement  with  which  had 
commenced  my  worst  misfortune,  but  left  my  full  powers 
with  a  friend,  or,  in  other  words,  sold  my  birthright  to  a 
schemer  for  an  immediate  sum.  The  same  act  rid  me 
of  my  troubles,  and  began  those  of  my  brothers :  a  cir- 
qumstance  which  they  probably  only  learned  after  my 
departure,  as  in  consequence  of  their  ill-fated  attempt, 


332  ANASTASIUS. 

both  kept  their  beds ;  not  entirely  from  choice,  however, 
— Constantine  having  got  a  bioken  arm  in  the  conflict, 
and  Eustathius  a  dislocated  hip.  These  were  the  only 
incidents  which  gave  me  any  comfort. 

As  for  me,  I  took  my  passage  to  Cyprus,  where  I 
thought  I  might  join  the  Turkish  fleet  in  its  way  to 
Egypt ;  and  in  the  act  of  embarking,  called  down  upon 
my  head  the  utmost  wrath  of  Heaven,  if  ever  I  set  foot 
on  my  native  land  again. 

Spiridion,  by  the  way  of  Smyrna,  speedily  reached  his 
home,  and  his  father's  longing  arms.  Whether  from 
fatigue  or  from  mere  disappointment,  he  fell  into  a  state 
of  languor,  which  long  threatened  a  fatal  termination. 
But  time  and  corporeal  debility  at  last  blunted  the  sting 
of  mental  suffering.  Insensibly  health  returned,  and  with 
health,  a  calm  hilarity.  The  youth  then  resumed,  never 
more  to  abandon  it,  the  steady  regular  mode  of  life  which 
only  for  my  sake  had  been  interrupted.  In  good  time  he 
married  a  young  lady  of  noble  blood  and  distinguished 
beauty,  and  became  the  happy  father  of  a  lovely  family. 

Mavrocordato,  as  observed  before,  had  destined  his  son 
to  run  the  perilous  race  of  ambition ;  and,  had  he  never 
known  the  fear  of  losing  that  darling  son,  would  with 
difficulty  have  been  diverted  from  his  purpose.  But 
while  Spiridion's  fate  hung  suspended  between  life  and 
death,  his  father  too  strongly  felt  the  blessing  of  his 
existence,  and  the  value  of  his  happiness,  any  longer  to 
stake  them  against  perilous  honours,  diflicult  to  attain, 
and  liollow  when  possessed.  His  desires  became  sobered, 
and  his  views  less  aspiring:  he  determined  to  prefer  the 
certainty  of  his  son's  bliss  to  the  probable  misery  of  his 
grandeur;  and  vowed,  so  Heaven  but  left  him  his  child, 
never  more  to  abuse  a  father's  authority,  by  goading  him 
on  to  dangerous  distinctions.  Thence,  indeed,  Mavro- 
cordato obtained  not,  like  the  Giccas,  the  Callimackis 
and  others,  the  advantage  of  boasting  lliat  their  nearest 
of  kin  liad  been  bowstringed  on  a  throne;  but  this 
misfortu)ie  he  bore  with  becoming  resignation.  As  to 
Spiridion,  content  to  move  in  the  sphere  of  a  wealthy 
merchant,  he  em[)loyed  his  daily  growing  riches  in 
diffusing  around  him  happiness  and  prosperity.  His  life 
resembled  the  course  of  a  majestic  stream,  whose  deep 
but  tranquil  wafers,  winding  their  ample  way  through 
fertile  plains  and  flowery  meads,  as  they  advance  still 
receive  from  new  rills  fresh  increase,  while  at  each  step 


ANASTASIUS.  333 

also  they  bestow  more  profusely  all  the  fruits  of  industry, 
and  all  the  blessings  of  plenty. 

Far  different  was  the  similitude  borne  by  my  roving 
life.  Seeking  my  fortune  in  strife,  not  in  harmony; 
making  havoc,  not  culture,  the  means  of  my  support; 
and  engaged,  not  in  the  steady  pursuit  of  a  regular  pro- 
fession, but  in  a  wild,  wandering  flight  from  one  career  to 
another ;  sometimes  prosperous  and  oftener  unfortunate ; 
now  in  unavailing  plenty,  and  now  again  in  pinching 
want ;  I  at  best  resembled  the  blustering  mountain  torrent, 
which,  only  acquiring  might  and  substance  during  the 
war  of  elements,  as  soon  as  they  cease  their  strife,  again 
subsides  in  a  mean  rill ;  in  times  of  serenity  shows  no 
trace  of  its  existence,  save  in  the  havoc  of  darker  days 
brought  to  light ;  and  so  far  from  in  its  fulness  diffusing 
more  benefits  than  in  its  penury,  only  effects  greater  mis- 
chief as  it  receives  ampler  supplies.  While  still  near  its 
source  in  the  upper  regions  of  the  globe,  this  ill-favoured 
offspring  of  the  clouds,  hurried  over  fell  and  precipice, 
only  offers  a  succession  of  fierce  struggles,  furious  falls, 
and  impracticable  shallows ;  when  farther  advanced  in 
its  impetuous  career,  and  rushing  with  tremendous  roar 
into  the  fertile  plain  below,  it  seems  indeed  determined 
to  make  itself  amends  for  the  restraint  which  it  expe- 
rienced; it  disregards  all  rights,  destroys  all  property, 
and  levelling  fence  and  boundary,  annihilates  crops, 
habitations,  and  life :  but  throughout  the  whole  of  its 
wild  and  uncertain  progress,  from  where  it  first  bubbles 
up  near  the  sky,  to  where  it  finally  plunges  into  the  vast 
abyss  of  the  deep,  it  equally  remains  a  curse  to  the  region 
it  pervades ! 


END    OF    VOL.  I. 


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